Act 3 Scene 2
The Princess and Pince walked into the trading post shop, being greeted by warmth as the building had a large fireplace that kept out the cold. The two felt relieved to take a break from the snow and ice outside. Even Anna had to admit she wanted this moment to last for as long as she could. As they looked around, there were shelves of different kinds of supplies from food, to clothing and travel equipment. There were many items that caught the eyes of the royals, as it was the perfect opportunity for them to stock up on supplies.
"I don't suppose you have any money on you?" Hans questioned the Princess, as they took a few more steps inside.
"No… but I am the Princess of Arendelle." Anna pointed out. Hopefully that would help, as they had so much to restock for their trip.
Just as they were about to look for the person in charge around here, the two heard a voice call to them. "Hoo-Hoo!" It was a masculine yet soft voice, with a thick accent of the native land. They turned to the left to see a large table connected to the floor, with a man behind it. He was on the heavier side, though seemed small. He had a round face with a big nose and small sapphire eyes. His clothing was of a large forest green sweater with patterns of light and dark blues, with a fez hat to match. He also had a dirty blond mustache connected to his sideburns. Based on his overly cheerful nature, he must have been the owner himself: Oaken. "Big Winter blowout! Half off snow jackets, boots, and a stew of my own invention. Guaranteed to warm you up from the inside. Ya?" He held up a jar of steaming liquid, which Hans and Anna could smell from where they were standing. There was meat in there, but neither could tell what kind.
"Oh… uh, thanks." Anna smiled. "We're actually in need of some stocking up with food and equipment."
"Wonderful! Good timing too! We just got restocked for all of our supplies. Especially before the storms hit the Kingdom. They are quite a doozy." He wasn't kidding, due to the environment of Arendelle, they often would get snowstorms during the months where the night was in the sky the longest. "And from what I hear, there will be a big one tonight." Oaken informed them.
Hearing about a potential snow storm made the two royals look at each other with concern. Traveling the mountain at night was one thing, but being met with a blizzard would surely delay their progression. Which meant they needed to get what they could if they had any chance of survival. "Now, what can Oaken here get for the two of you?"
"Uh… Mr. Oaken, was it?" Hans stepped forward towards the owner. "I don't know how much we can afford at the moment. You see, the truth is neither one of us has any money on our persons at this time." He figured they should be honest up front, since the last thing Hans wanted was for them to get into trouble for stealing. The Prince had hoped this kind man would be able to understand and would be willing to give a few things away considering their circumstances. Luck didn't seem to be on Hans's side, as he watched the gentle man lifting himself up from his seat behind the counter. Oaken loomed over the table, appearing as a giant that nearly reached the ceiling of the small cabin. His chipper smile turned into a confused and slightly offended frown.
"You… don't have any money?" Oaken's voice even sounded different, not particularly threatening but it was close. Hans began to stutter, staring up at the giant before him as he was afraid to say anything else to set this guy off. Not only was he intimidating, if they didn't tread carefully the two would most likely end up thrown into the snow bank without any supplies at all.
Anna immediately stepped in between Hans and Oaken, using her rambling to deescalate the situation. "Don't be mad at Prince Hans! He was trying to do the noble thing and explain the situation we are in. Which in hindsight we should have been clear about in the beginning, especially when we walked through the doors realizing we had no means of payment. But, in our defense we didn't think it would take us this long to make it up the North Mountain. And we had plenty of supplies before, but most of them are gone since I only packed for myself. Not that it's his fault we ran out of food so quickly, he has been a great help in this journey and I don't think it would have been as fun without him. However, you must know we would never think of stealing anything from you. I was never raised that way, being the second in line for the Kingdom and all. I value all of my people and want to ensure they are able to live comfortably and happily. So stealing from such a humble and hard-working man like yourself would go against all I have learned. And please don't throw us out into the snow, we're already cold enough as is and haven't properly gotten the chance to warm up." Anna went on with her sentences, but to her credit they seemed to have calmed the owner down.
So much so he raised a brow as he stared at the auburn woman with curiosity. "Did you say… second in line for the Kingdom?" Oaken asked.
Anna smiled genuinely and bowed to him. "Princess Anna of Arendelle, that's me."
Oaken looked at the Princess, checking over her figure as if to examine her. Hans was worried that he might not have believed her, thinking Anna was a con artist and using the title to sugarcoat their way out of here. The Prince prepared himself to be thrown out of the trading post, thinking they had only angered this owner further. Surprisingly, his smile returned to his lips, making him jolly again. "Oh my! Princess Anna! It is an honor to have you come all the way out here!" He clapped his hands together, becoming giddy as he looked at the young woman. Hans looked at Oaken as he went back to his chipper self, while Anna smiled up at him.
"And it's very lucky we found ourselves at your outpost. You have quite the lovely set up here." She commented while looking around.
Oaken took that compliment to heart as he responded. "Thank you so much, your highness! My family and I work hard to ensure this Trading Post is equipped with the best supplies. Especially since the only customers we ever get here are the Ice Harvesters."
"Ice Harvesters?" Hans repeated, as he remembered hearing about them but still unsure what they do.
Oaken looked over at the Prince as he elaborated. "They are the workers that harvest the ice from the North Mountain and use it in trade."
Hans realized this and smiled as he understood. "Oh yeah, they ship that ice to the Southern Isles because they can't produce their own ice. And Arendelle's ice is so thick and cold, that it is unable to melt by the time it gets there."
"Considering Arendelle is only known for its ice and snow, it makes sense we would have to use it as part of our trade since it's one of the main resources we can offer." Anna admitted.
"And who might you be, sir?" Oaken referred to Hans with a smile.
Hans was taken aback that someone asked about his status, he tried to be sophisticated and respond as he was told. "I am Prince Hans, of the Southern Isles." He stood tall and poised.
Oaken stared at Hans for a while, hearing him sprout his title and name but the owner remained oblivious. "Never heard of you." Hans lost his composure and slouched when Oaken admitted he was unaware of the Prince. At this point, Hans didn't even know why he bothered.
Anna once again tried to intervene and explain the situation. "As Prince Hans mentioned, we don't have any money on us at the moment. But if it is alright with you, I would like to open up a tab to keep track of what we have bought. Then when I go back to Arendelle, I will make sure you are paid what I owe you. And will give you a ten percent increase in profits for the trouble we've caused." Anna explained.
Oaken sat back down, making himself look small again as he listened to her request before humming. "Well, normally I don't open tabs for first time customers. But, since you are the first royalty from Arendelle to come to our Trading Post, I shall make an expectation! So long as you keep to your word about paying me back with interest."
Anna was pleased to hear that, as she smiled. "Of course! And we won't need much. Just some food and new clothing."
"Ah! Food I can provide. But as for clothing, I'd need some help with that." Oaken explained. "Familie!" He called out, turning to a door close to the counter. The buyers and owner watched the wooden door open, as five people came out. A tall but lean man with brown hair and blue eyes, followed by four girls with dark brown hair of different styles, but sharing the same eye color as the man. They were also different sizes, indicating their ages. Anna and Hans watched as the five came out and were close to Oaken. "Princess Anna, Prince Hans. Allow me to introduce you to my family." Oaken explained, going over to the man and holding him close in a hug. "This is my husband, Ceiro." He kissed his partner on the cheek, making Ceiro giggle and stroke Oaken's beard. "And these are our daughters." Oaken then gestured towards the girls, going from tallest to shortest. "We have Ingrid the eldest, then Astrid, followed by Sigird, and our youngest Arvid."
Hans was stunned when he saw the family, not only was it a big one, they seemed pretty happy despite living in a small Trading Post. "You have uh… really big family." It was all the Prince could comment on.
Anna seemed overjoyed as she approached them, smiling as she knelt down to the daughters. "Oh, they are so beautiful. You must be really proud." The daughters approached the Princess, walking over to her and admiring her.
"That we are," Ceiro stated. "They help around the home and shop. They often bicker over who will take over the post."
"But we rather they stay together and run as a family. Of course, there isn't any certainty that will happen. But a father can dream." Oaken mused.
Anna giggled as the girls kept asking her questions. "Are you really a Princess?"
"What kind of dresses do you wear?"
"If you're a princess, can you sing?"
"Do you have an animal companion?"
"Are you going to be engaged to a prince?"
Anna seemed amused by their curiosities, as she tried to answer them all. "Yes, I'm a Princess. I wear lots of dresses prepared by my special servant, but I tend to ruin a lot of them because I am a bit clumsy. Luckily there's always plenty to spare. I dare say I can sing, very greatly. After all, I've been taking lessons in vocals for a long while, so I would assume they would pay off by now. Of course, I don't sing often and am a bit stage shy, but who isn't? No, I don't have an animal companion, unless you count my horse Askel outside, but he's only there to transport me up the Mountain. We don't hang out that much outside of the stables. And no, I'm not engaged to anyone at the moment. I'm still waiting for my one true love, but I'm not in a rush to find him yet. I have my own mission to accomplish before I can think about love. But if I find it along the way, I won't leave it behind." Anna smiled at the kids.
Hans listened to her answer the questions, surprised she could get to them all. The part about her wanting to find love did peak his interest, but he ignored those feelings as there were more oppressing matters to attend to. "Uh… we would like to get the supplies as soon as possible. We still have a long journey ahead of us." He tried to get them back on track, since there was a lot more ground to cover before they could reach the top of the North Mountain.
Anna immediately stood back up and tried to be serious. "Yes! We want some new clothing, preferably something comfortable and warm."
Ceiro smiled as he heard the request from the Princess. "Ah! You're in luck! I have quite the collection of specialized outfits inspired by our ancestors who sailed the seas before settling down here!"
Hearing that did get Hans's interest, as he had a thing for ancient civilizations. "Well, as long as they keep us warm, I'm willing to take it."
Ceiro clapped his hands together. "Splendid! I have a wide variety of them in the back since we haven't displayed them yet. Which means you get the first pick! I'll have to take you one at a time though! Store policies."
Hans and Anna looked at each other, wondering who should go first. "I can go first, you want to try the sauna, and this could be your chance." Hans suggested.
"Oh, no." Anna waved her hands. "I'm used to being cold, since I live in Arendelle and our environment isn't as cold as where you must come from. And it's not as if I won't get the chance to have a sauna experience. I mean I want to, but that isn't a priority right now. We have to focus on finding my sister, and we're already wasting so much time being in this shop. Not that it's a bad store, it's a very well-kept and cute store and I'm glad we stopped because we do need the supplies. It would be really bad if we got stranded and we didn't have any food or clothing, so we should focus on that. But you came with me, which you didn't have to, even though I'm thankful for that. But since I dragged you on this adventure, the least I can do is make sure that you are cared for. The last thing I need is for you to die. Not that I would allow you to, and I would be upset if you did. Freezing to death especially is very painful, and all the more reason to make sure you keep yourself warm…" Anna went off on one of her rants again, which Hans allowed her to do. Despite the bafflement the family expressed, they allowed the Princess to ramble.
"Alright, if it is that important to you Princess Anna, you go on ahead and I'll stay here to get the supplies and try the sauna out." Hans finally spoke to try and get her to get back on track.
Anna looked up at Hans, smiling in embarrassment. "I… went on another rant again, didn't I?"
Hans nodded. "Don't worry about it, you get your clothes first."
Anna smiled up at him as she turned toward Ceiro. Oaken's husband took her hand and escorted the Princess to the back. The daughters followed as they still had many more questions to ask and wanted to make sure she looked beautiful in the clothes their father made. Hans watched them go through the door, hoping the outfit she would get would be warm enough for her.
"The Princess sure is a gentle and beautiful soul, isn't she?" Oaken commented as he looked over at the door.
"She's… something." Hans wasn't sure how to describe her. She was a lot of things to him, but all of them were positive to the Prince.
Oaken looked over at the Prince as his goofy smile went wider. "So… if you are a Prince, did you come to Arendelle to try and arrange a marriage with the Princess or Queen?"
Hearing such a thing made Hans embarrassed. He looked back over at Oaken and tried to defend himself. "What!? N-No! I was only there with my brothers… we were there to watch the coronation… nothing else!" He tried to defend, being flustered at the thought of being with the Queen… or Anna. "Not that…you know… I mean Princess Anna is very kind… despite her, uh… flaws. But we aren't… I mean we have't really… we're only together… together as in acquaintanceship due to… what happened with… the…" Hans suddenly found it difficult to speak, while Oaken stared at him with that jolly demeanor. The Prince wasn't sure how to phrase his time with Anna, and he'd rather focus on the task at hand to take his mind off of the conversation. "So… what kinds of food do you have that can be eaten while traveling?"
"Oh we have a lot in terms of variety. Most of it is meat, but it is travel sized and remains steamed in our special packing. Vi har Kjøttkaker, Røkelaks, Tørrfisk and Slid. Or if you prefer something not of fish or meat, we also have Flatbrød, Brunost and Raspeballs. And my personal favorite, Trollkrem. It's a common dessert here in Arendelle, especially with the lingonberries growing around the 'Valley of the Living Rock'. That's the only place they grow, as it is rumored to be the home of the Trolls."
Upon hearing the name of those creatures, it made Hans perk up with curiosity. "Trolls? So the dessert is named after them…"
"Indeed. Trolls are a staple to our culture, it was said that the founder of Arendelle was the first one to meet them." Oaken explained.
"Do you have any stories about the Trolls?" Hans asked, as his fascination was written upon his face.
Oaken hummed as he looked behind his counter. "I think I have just the thing…" The tall owner of the post reached under his shelves and took out a stack of books. They were fairly thin, but there were a good number of them. "These are mostly children stories, but they are the most common and well known about Trolls. You are free to read them if you wish, and if you are interested, you can purchase them."
Hans took the novels, flipping through them to see the words and the pictures. He took them to a nearby chair and started to get lost in the pages. Oaken noticed the Prince being invested with the stories of old. He was slightly amused that despite his age, Hans was enjoying tales meant for children. Oaken decided to take it upon himself to pack the food for the royals. Since Hans and Anna were busy, he wanted to occupy himself. The shop owner packed up a basket full of different meats and breads, things that he figured would keep them warm.
Hans flipped through the pages, soaking in the knowledge as he was learning so much about the mythical creatures living in Arendelle. He wished he could have met them in person, get to see what they looked like and interact with them. Many minutes passed before Hans realized it. The door to the back rooms opened, revealing Ceiro and Anna. "May I present Princess Anna of Arendelle in our ancient clothing!" Ceiro announced proudly, making Hans perk up to see her. Gazing upon the Princess, she had on a new outfit. She had on an ocean blue close-fitting strap dress with a leather smock underneath. The dress was sewn together at the sides, with gussets embedded into it to give the dress shape. The straps, held up on each shoulder, were fastened with a brooch, the symbol of Arendelle: The snowflake. Between the two brooches were a string of beads.
Anna also had on a medium aquamarine cloak over her shoulders, fastened with a small round brooch as the cloak was decorated with bands of fur and woven borders. She had on a belt around the waist as well, with small leather purses that could hold little items. On her feet were leather shoes, perfect to tread through snow. Her hair was now in two braided ponytails that laid on her shoulders. She stepped over and twirled around in her new outfit, trying to get used to the material. "So, what do you think?" Anna asked, looking over at Hans.
The Prince stared at Anna as he looked at her new outfit. His heart skipped a beat as she looked quite appealing in such attire. He wasn't sure what to say as he sat on the chair, face turning red. "Y-you… y-you…" He stuttered as his eyes were wide like the stars.
Anna saw how bashful Hans was and became embarrassed. "Is it the colors? I liked the ocean theme so I wanted to stick with that. And Ceiro said that it looked great on me, and since he made it I had to take his word for it. Plus, it's comfy and warm, yet easy to move around in. Of course I'm still getting used to the layers, as there's a lot more than I thought. But on the plus side, pouches for things to fit in! I never have pockets in any of my dresses, so this is like a perfect medium for me! But, if it's too much or you don't like it, I could-"
"I like… I mean…" Hans cut her off as he tried to form a sentence. "It… looks great… on you… and… as long as you're warm… that's what matters, right?" He stared at her, trying to keep himself calm, despite how red his face was.
Anna smiled up at him, glad that he liked it and didn't seem to notice how flushed he was. "You better get your outfit next. Ceiro has a great selection of them, and we still have a lot of ground to cover."
Hans nodded, as he started to make his way over to the dress maker while keeping his eyes on Anna. "Y-yeah… won't take me long." He tried to tell her, only to bump into the desk which caused him to wince as he hit his stomach. "Agh!" He grunted, as the pain distracted him from his mesmerizing the Princess.
Anna reached over to him with concern. "Are you okay?"
Hans didn't look back at her, holding his side as he forced a smile. "I'm fine… I'll be… right back…" He reassured as he slowly wobbled over to Ceiro, who took him to the door leading to the back rooms. Once the two were gone, Oaken broke the silence.
"That man may be a Prince, but he sure acts younger than he looks." The shop owner remarked.
Anna turned to him and shrugged. "He's usually so refined and articulate. I've never seen him stumble so much." Anna admitted, baffled by Hans's lack of grace.
"Oh, I can take a guess as to why." Oaken mused, cracking that smile which Anna noticed seemed to be hiding a secret. The Princess didn't understand what he meant, nor did he end up telling her. "Anyways, your Prince was busy reading the Troll books I gave to him. So I packed you both some foods that would be good for your travels. Nothing too expensive, I promise. But I figured since there are two of you, there would be enough for a couple."
Anna went over to the desk, looking inside the basket to check out all the foods within. She could smell the bread and fish, which made her smile. Her stomach growled, but she would save that for later. "Thank you, Mr. Oaken." The Princess then turned to the chair where Hans was sitting. Her hand reached over to take the books that he had been reading, touching the covers to admire the images. She could see how he would enjoy these stories, as they were ones her mother would read to Anna and Elsa when they were children. "It's been so long since I've read these books…" She muttered, getting lost in the past. They seemed to have interested Hans, and it only felt right to have him keep these novels due to his passion. The Princess handed the books to Oaken, smiling. "I'd like to purchase these as well, if that's alright."
Oaken returned that grin, taking the booklets and wrapping them up. "Consider them on the house. We have many more of these, and they hardly sell anyways." He told her.
"Thank you," Anna was grateful for his charity. "But I don't feel right just taking them. Add them to my tab, and you have my word you will be paid back." She declared, as she felt it was only right.
Oaken mused as he nodded. "You are quite the generous Princess. I am still surprised that you came all this way here though. If I may ask, what brings you and that Prince all the way up here?"
Anna was a bit hesitant to answer, since she didn't want Elsa's actions to reflect her character. The last thing she wanted was her subjects to doubt her leadership for running off. Especially if they learned she had the powers of ice and snow. Still, she should explain what they are doing and hopefully get some information to help them out. Adjusting herself, Anna tried to explain without too much elaboration. "Well, Prince Hans and I were heading up the mountain. We're searching for somebody. Someone who is very important to me, that I can't live without. Even though she has been under a lot of pressure and tries to act elegant, deep down I know she must be scared and alone. And I know she is trying to keep herself away from people because she doesn't want to hurt them, but her not being by my side and letting me help is only hurting me. And I know the last thing she wants to do is cause me pain, but seeing her suffer is just as bad if I was stabbed in the gut! So even if she doesn't want me, I am going to find her and tell her how I feel. And despite her objections, I will ensure that she comes back and we can figure out her problems together. Because we have been separated for thirteen years because of her problems, and I am not going to live another day with us apart just because she wants to handle them alone." Anna didn't realize until she finished that she ended up over-sharing once again.
Oaken gazed at the Princess, stunned but invested in her story. It was clear the shop owner didn't have much entertainment up here, so he had to press while trying to respect her boundaries. "And… who is this person, if I may ask?"
Anna took in a breath, as she may as well tell him since there was no use hiding it. "My sister, Queen Elsa. She ran off to the Mountains last night and I'm trying to find her."
"Oh dear… I do hope she is alright." Oaken spoke with concern for both the royals of Arendelle.
Anna looked over at the shop owner, deciding to ask him something. "You haven't by any chance seen the Queen come up here, have you?"
Oaken shook his head as he looked disappointed. "I'm sorry Princess Anna, but you and Prince Hans are the only royals who have come up here. Any other people that usually stop by are the Ice Harvesters."
Anna looked saddened by the realization. Then again, Elsa probably would try to avoid everyone if she was conflicted with her powers, just like Hans mentioned. "That's alright… thank you again Mr. Oaken."
The large man of the post shrugged. "I wish I could be more helpful, but sadly I am just a shop owner."
Anna reassured him as she tried to change the subject. "Well, if you want to help, do you know what the quickest route up to the North Mountain is?" She asked.
Oaken raised a brow at her question. "The North Mountain?"
Anna nodded as she explained. "Prince Hans believes that Elsa went up there, as it's the most isolated place in Arendelle. So we're making our way there."
"Oh dear… I'm afraid that's impossible. You see, there's only one trail that is used on the North Mountain. And that trail is only used by the Ice Harvesters. No one else is allowed on that one. Believe me, my daughters tried going there once and got scolded by that group." Oaken noted with a hint of annoyance.
Hearing this made Anna a bit worried. If the only path up the North Mountain was inaccessible to visitors, then her plan to find Elsa would be put on hold, or worse. "Is the path… dangerous?" Anna asked, wondering if that was the reason behind the road being blocked by the workers.
Oaken nodded. "That's what they tell me. It's also very easy to get lost, especially at night. I'm afraid continuing on is impossible."
Anna wasn't going to give up that easily. "Is there any way that I can be allowed to go through that path?" She had to find some way to get up to the top of this settlement.
Oaken did not seem to have her enthusiasm. "I'm afraid the only option you have is if you get an Ice Harvester to guide you up the path." As much of an inconvenience as that seemed to the Princess, it was the only way she could continue her journey. Still, if there was a chance she could go up that road, she had to take it.
"Are there any of the workers nearby?" Anna questioned.
"Well, they do stop here occasionally. But the last Ice Harvester showed up around an hour ago at the end of his shift. So it could be a while before the next fellow comes through that door." Oaken informed her. As he had said that, the door to the Post Shop opened to reveal someone coming in. Anna and Oaken turned, seeing a tall, rugged man. He had broad shoulders with a muscular build that matched his large hands and feet. Anna was speechless when she looked at the guy who came in. "Or right now." Oaken told the Princess. "Hoo-Hoo! Big Winter Blowout!" The owner greeted the newcomer, as the man walked in. Anna kept her eyes on him, seeing what he looked like.
He had on a thick dark black tunic with a fur-lined burgundy collar with a blue patch sewed on his right elbow. His sash tied around his waist matched the color of his collar, as it held a dark blue long sleeved undershirt with thick dark trousers. He also had accessories such as brownish-green mittens, a dark bobble-hat and fur-lined dark brown boots with pointed toes. He looked dressed for the weather, Anna realized. Despite his large stature, he couldn't have been too old. Maybe his early twenties if Anna had to guess. He was kind of handsome, the Princess had to admit. Especially seeing his shoulder-length, golden-blond hair which could only be described as unmanly. But his light brown eyes did compliment his fair skin with the few freckles that danced across his nose.
The man walked over to the end of the store, taking a few pic axes, rope and a couple of knives before he headed back towards the counter. He stared down at Anna, as the Princess could feel him towering over her. She tried not to make eye contact, as this man was a bit too close to her she now realized. "Carrots…" He spoke.
The Princess finally turned to see the man, baffled by his request. "Huh?"
He leaned in closer, his face just a few inches away from hers. Anna would have found this uncomfortable, but she was used to being in other people's faces and personal space. So she wasn't one to judge. "Behind you." The man spoke again. The Princess turned, seeing a few stalls underneath the counter that contained certain vegetables. The one she was blocking was holding some carrots.
"Oh!" Anna put the pieces together, taking a few steps back. "Excuse me." She allowed the man to bend down and take the carrots, placing a good handful on the counter with the other items the man purchased.
Oaken checked over the goods the man was buying. "That'll be forty." Oaken declared.
Hearing that, the man looked at Oaken with slight surprise. "Forty? It was ten the last time I was here!"
"Oh dear, there must have been a mistake. You see, these are our last tools and rope from our Winter stock. And we won't get anymore until a few days. So it's all supply and demand."
"I need these ropes and items. I'm going to gather some ice from the North Mountain before the storms start coming through." When Anna heard that, her eyes brightened. Did he say he was collecting ice? From the North Mountain? Did that mean he was an Ice Harvester?!
Oaken was not going to budge. "Still forty. But I will throw in a visit to our Oaken sauna." He offered, direction the attention to the steam room.
The man shook his head, not taking the deal. "Ten's all I got. Can you please help me out?"
"Okay," Oaken switched the carrots so they were in the front while the equipment was in the back. "I can give you the carrots, but that is all."
"Hold on, tell me something." Anna interjected, before the younger guy seemed like he was about to argue further. "Are you… an Ice Harvester? Like, the guys who collects Ice for Arendelle's trade for the Southern Isles and tend to go around the North Mountain, knowing your way around those slopes?" Anna questioned, as she wanted to make sure this guy was a genuine professional so he could be the one to help her and Hans out.
The man whipped his head over to the Princess, starting to get annoyed as he answered her. "Yes. Now back up while I deal with this crook here." Clearly the Ice Harvester was becoming agitated as he was not able to afford his tools and carrots. Still, Anna was pleased to hear that this guy was someone she needed if she had any hope of finding her sister.
Oaken started to stand up as he began to tower over the duo. When the man saw how big the owner was, he swallowed a lump in his throat. He had not realized how much he had messed up. "What did you call me?" Oaken asked, looking hurt but he looked like he would bring the pain. The man could only stare at the owner, stuttering as he was terrified. Much like how Hans was before.
Anna looked between the two, fearing a fight would break out or Oaken would just toss this man out of the store. The Princess had to come up with a solution, as she needed this man and could not afford to lose him. Once again, Anna butted into this business as she stood in between the Ice Harvester and the Shop Owner. "I'll pay for the equipment." Anna blurted out. Oaken's gaze from the man turned towards the Princess, hearing her pleas as even the Ice Harvester was surprised. "Put down the carrots and his equipment on my tab and I'll pay it back."
This seemed to have at least calmed Oaken down, as his attention was now on the Princess. "You want to pay for this man's supplies on top of the food, clothing and books?" He questioned. "That's a pretty tall order."
He wasn't wrong, but Anna didn't care about money. If this man could help her and Hans scale up the North Mountain to find her sister, then the Princess would pay any price to make it happen. "I am certain. Put it all on my tab and I will pay you back once I return to Arendelle, Mr. Oaken." Anna tried to remain on her toes, literally so she could look taller than the Ice Harvester. She wanted to be the one Oaken was looking at instead of the other customer. Of course, Anna wasn't as tall as the two men, but she still tried. Oaken kept eye contact with the Princess, while the man behind Anna decided to keep quiet. Eventually, the shop owner sat back down to make himself smaller as a smile appeared on his lips yet again.
"Very well! I'll add that forty to your tab Princess." Oaken scribbled down on a piece of paper. Anna was relieved that Oaken agreed to this purchase. The Princess then reached and grabbed the items, handing them out to the Ice Harvester.
The blond man looked at the red-head, raising a brow despite how cheery she was. He took the items in a begrudging manner. "I could have handled it on my own…" He didn't sound pleased despite Anna's generosity. The Princess was baffled by his attitude, but didn't want to say anything at the moment. Once the Ice Harvester gathered his items, he looked at the shop owner to ask another question. "Do you mind if I stay in your barn for a bit before heading out? I need to prepare for my journey."
Oaken looked over at the Ice Harvester when he asked the question, and to both their surprise, the shop owner was generous. "Very well. Just be careful where you step, we haven't cleaned it out yet." He warned. The man scoffed, but headed out of the shop and out the door. Anna watched him go until he was gone. He certainly didn't seem like a social person, nor was he a gracious one since he didn't even thank Anna for buying his supplies. Oaken must have noticed Anna's thoughts about the man, so he spoke up. "Don't be too offended Princess Anna. The Ice Harvesters aren't known for their compassion and friendly demonors." Oaken explained.
Anna chuckled nervously as she kept her eyes on the door. "Guess they don't interact with anyone else aside from themselves." She added.
"Well, with the carrots and equipment, your new total comes to 180. That is fifty for the clothes of you and your friend, forty for the food and books, and the forty from what you just purchased for the Ice Harvester." Oaken informed.
Anna heard the total, but wasn't too concerned. "I'll be sure to pay you back," she promised. Oaken kept his smile, trusting the Princess. The door from the back rooms opened, revealing Ceiro and the Prince of the Southern Isles. The latter wore a different attire than before, which was more inline with the ancient clothing of Arendelle's past. Hans's clothing consisted of a tunic, trousers and a cloak. The tunic was a dark brown, reminiscent of a long-armed shirt without buttons and flowed down to the knees. He had a lighter brown cloak over his shoulders that was fastened with the Arendelle brooch. The fur material gathered over his right arm where his sword sheath was. The trousers looked to be a type of plus fours, with a dye of woodland green and gathered up under the knee. They also required puttees ( a variety of legwarmers) wound around the shins and legs to give warmth. He also had on leather boots for footwear. Much like Anna, Hans also had a belt fastened around his waist that held up his clothes. The belt contained a purse attached to it.
The Prince walked out, holding up his arms as he walked slowly in the thick clothing. Anna's face lit up as she saw Hans in the new outfit. She clapped her hands, impressed with the presentation. "You look amazing, Hans! The cloak and trousers really compliment your figure. I mean, I shouldn't be surprised. These brands of clothing are not only comfortable and warm, but also fashionable with different dyes and furs. And with this, you look like you belong in Arendelle."
Hearing her last comment, Hans looked up at the Princess. He was taken aback by the notion she saw him as one of her citizens. Then again, he didn't mind Arendelle itself, and found the people warm and welcoming, despite the climate and weather of the country. A smile soon formed on his face as he took the compliment to heart. "T-thank you… Princess Anna." He walked over to her as he tried to get used to the thick clothing. "It's a bit hard to walk around in… but I don't feel cold."
"Glad you like the clothing," Ceiro replied as he went over to Oaken while admiring his work. "It took me many months to get the materials I needed. I do hope they are up to your standards."
Anna looked over at the Trading Post couple and as her face beamed with positivity. "They will work. Thank you so much for the supplies. You have my word as Princess that I will pay you back once I get back to Arendelle and assure my sister is safe."
Oaken nodded in agreement. "I wish you luck on your journey, and hope you find who you are looking for." He told her.
Anna was grateful for his words, and it made her determined to find Elsa right away. The Princess looked over at the door where the Ice Harvester went, remembering he headed to the shack not too far from the Trading Post. With her plan in mind, Anna looked over at Oaken. "Would it be alright if we stationed our horses here?" Anna asked, as Hans questioned what the reason for that was.
"Well, of course. But we would have to charge you five per animal for every night they stay here." Oaken admitted.
Anna didn't think too much of it, agreeing. "That's fine. And if they are here, that would give me a reason to have to come back. Not that I was planning on ditching my tab, I assure you I try to take accountability for my actions. And I will ensure that you get your money due. It's just that if I know I have a reason to come back up here, then I will and I will give you your money back with interest. Plus with the ride me and Prince Hans will be getting, we can't bring our horses with us. So it's best if they stay here for the time being where they will be tended to."
"Very well Princess, we can keep your horses in the stables until you return." Oaken agreed.
"I'll let the girls know so they can get the brushes and carrots!" Ceiro cheered as he headed off to find their daughters.
"Thank you again, Mr. Oaken." Anna told the shop owner. She grabbed the items they purchased and waved to Oaken. He waved back as she turned on her heels and headed over to Hans.
"Uh… why are we giving this man our only means of transportation up the North Mountain?" the Prince questioned as he and Anna were heading towards the door.
"Because I found someone who will help us instead." Anna mused. Hans wanted to ask further, but didn't get a chance as Anna grabbed his hand and pulled him outside. Dragging the Prince out into the snowy landscape, they walked over to a large barn that was close to the Trading Post. They could see a light coming from inside via the window, indicating someone was occupying the space. Hans raised a brow at the structure while Anna looked giddy as if she had done something worthwhile.
"We're… at a barn…" Hans noted, not as enthused about the building as his companion.
Anna turned to the Prince so she could explain in her exaggerated way. "See, I told Mr. Oaken about what we were doing and how we were trying to find Elsa. Of course I didn't mention about her having powers, since it would have made matters worse and I rather not Elsa being defined by being a magic user as that was her reason for running away. Since that could mean she was using her powers for something bad, which she wouldn't, but they probably wouldn't have believed that. So I asked him if there were any safe paths for us to travel up to the North Mountain. But, Mr. Oaken stated that the only path we need to take is off limits to those who aren't Ice Harvesters. And those workers get pretty annoyed if you try and go up that path, ask Oaken's daughters. So I was a bit upset and worried when I heard that, but he told me that if we had an Ice Harvester with us, they could guide us up the path and we won't get in trouble! So I asked if there were any Ice Harvesters around, and he stated that they usually come through but he hadn't seen one in an hour or two. To my luck though, one of those workers strolled through the door looking to purchase some carrots and equipment. Unfortunately, he didn't have that much on him in terms of currency, and wasn't able to afford everything. He got frustrated with Mr. Oaken, to the point he called him a crook, which Mr. Oaken got offended by. So, I offered to pay for his stuff and put it on my tab, which Mr. Oaken agreed to. Of course, the Ice Harvester didn't even thank me for helping him out, but the shop owner reassured me that was how they were, even though it was a bit rude and he could have shown a bit of gratitude. But I didn't force him to say anything, since I figured I could use that to my advantage." Anna smiled wider after explaining everything.
Despite her rant, Hans did not seem to follow where she was going, especially considering he lost her half way through her spiel. "So… why are we at this barn?" Hans questioned as he tried to be patient with the Princess.
Anna realized she had yet again rambled, and grew a bit embarrassed. So, she tried to get to the point. "Well, since we need an Ice Harvester to get us to the top of the North Mountain, we can use the guy who recently came up here to escort us up there."
Hearing her plan didn't seem to impress the Prince, if anything he seemed a bit concerned. "You want us to trust this guy we know nothing about, to take us up to a large mountain with no other witnesses?!"
Anna blinked at his sudden question, but she answered calmly. "...Yes"
"Princess… I do not mean to judge your ideas, but surely your parents must have warned you of the dangers of going to disclosed locations with strangers?" Hans questioned.
Anna looked at the Prince, a bit offended. "Of course they did. I may be naive at times, but I am stupid."
Hans feared he had offended her, and tried to reassure her. "No, no! Of course not! I mean, I wasn't suggesting… You are very intelligent, I'm sure. It's just… we don't know this man… and frankly with everything happening… it is unwise for us to rely on someone you just met to get us up the North Mountain."
Anna kept her gaze upon Hans, her eyelids blinking as if she was processing his words. For a moment, the Prince believed he had gotten through to her. Of course, Princess Anna was not one to be easily persuaded, especially with a mind like hers. "But… you are helping me get to the North Mountain." She pointed out. "And we hardly know each other."
The Prince stared at the woman, stunned by her response. "Well…" He trailed off, trying to comprehend his comeback. "Yes, but… the two of us have known each other for almost two days now. Sure we don't know… everything about each other, but we aren't strangers."
Anna nodded at that part. "That is true…" She admitted.
"Besides, I wanted to accompany you to take responsibility for my brother's accusations. As I feel at fault for your sister running off due to what they said. So me being here with you is warranted. But we can not assume that this… Ice Harvester…" Hans pointed at the barn door. "Will agree to help us."
"But we need one of those workers to guide us to the top of the North Mountain so we don't get into trouble… or get lost."
Hans sighed, as he was starting to believe Anna would not change her mind. "Be that as it may, there's no guarantee that this guy will be generous enough to help us."
Anna raised a brow. "How do you know?"
"Because I heard about the Ice Harvesters from Cireo. They may be hard workers, but they aren't known for their compassion and friendly demeanors."
Anna blinked a few times upon Hans's words. "Oh wow, that is exactly what Oaken told me."
"All the more reason he wouldn't be willing to help us." Hans complained. "If residents from Arendelle know it, then that proves it!"
Anna reached her hand over to the Prince, resting her fingers on his arm as she stared at him with a pleading expression. "Hans… we have to find my sister. And the only way to do that is to get us a guide that can bring us up to the North Mountain. And this man in that barn could be the only one to do so. As long of a shot as it is, I have to do whatever it takes to find my sister, talk to her… and try and convince her to come back home…" The Prince could see how desperate Anna was, as she was clearly dead set on doing anything in her power to bring her last family member to the Kingdom. While Hans could not relate to wanting someone to bring their sibling back out of love and respect, he understood that Anna cared about Elsa as they were all they had left. And any family was better than no family, right? Once again, Hans sighed as he knew he could not change the Princess's mind.
"Alright…" He begrudgingly caved in. "But, I don't want to go in. You want him to help us, you need to convince him. Plus, you are the Princess here, so I have no jurisdiction in ordering your subjects." Hans pointed out.
Anna seemed pleased with this arrangement, as she nodded before taking her hands off the Prince and began to make her way inside the barn. Within the structure, the man with messy blond hair was leaning against a pile of hay, as he had a small lute that he strung along. He sat next to his animal companion, who was munching on some carrots that the man had purchased, while the Ice Harvester was singing as he strung along with his instrument. "Reindeers are better than people. Sven, don't you think that's true?" He looked over at the reindeer in question, who lifted his head up to see the man while he munched on the vegetables. The animal's expression was neutral, as he was more focused on eating. The man kept eye contact with his companion, as he changed the pitch of his voice to mimic what the reindeer would say. "Yeah, people will beat you and curse you and cheat you. Every one of them's bad, except you."
The Ice Harvester chuckled as he was talking to himself, but still had fun. "Oh, thanks buddy." He strung the strings as he kept singing. "But people smell better than reindeers. Sven, don't you think I'm right?"
The reindeer just gazed at the man, not showing any kind of response to the question until he gave him a voice. "That's once again true, for all except you."
"You got me, let's call it a night." The man declared, setting his instrument down as he adjusted himself on the hay he used as a mattress.
"Good night." He mimicked the voice of his reindeer, while the animal stood up on his legs, watching his human.
"Don't let the frostbite… bite…" The man looked over at his friend, wanting to get some rest before they had to head out.
Of course, that plan was interrupted as the doors to the stables opened. Princess Anna entered, being cheerful as she bore her smile. "You certainly have a lovely voice." She commented. Her sudden appearance made the man jump and his reindeer neighed in surprise. "I assume you must have written that song on your own?" She asked, closing the door behind her so she could talk to the man.
The Ice Harvester stared up at the woman, raising a brow as he once again looked annoyed. "Don't you know you should knock before entering someone's quarters?"
"But these stables aren't yours." Anna pointed out. "And I was knocking, you just didn't hear me because you were too busy singing." The blond still appeared unamused, but he kept eye contact with the woman. Anna kept her posture straightened as she began to introduce herself. "Anyways, I am Princess Anna of Arendelle."
"You're… the princess?" The man sounded in disbelief as he just kept looking at her.
"Of course! Surely you must recognize me. Although, I guess it is hard to tell with me not being in a royal dress and instead being in these outfits. Not that they are bad or poor in fashion, they keep me warm and I love the color. However, I had to change outfits for my mission in heading up the North Mountain, but I can't do that because Mr. Oaken from the Trading Post mentioned that the only path leading to the top of the peak is only for the use of Ice Harvesters. And, Oh! What a coincidence, you are an Ice Harvester and heading up to the North Mountain. And since I was generous enough to pay for your equipment and carrots back in the shop, though I am always generous and considerate of people. And I wasn't trying to get anything out of you, I'm not the kind of person that expects favors! However, I figured since I helped you back there, I was hoping you could help me out and let me and my companion tag along with you to head up the North Mountain. We need a guide to get us up there, and you look like you've been there plenty of times so you must know your way around. So what I am trying to say is, would you possibly be willing to take the two of us to our destination. And I'm not ordering you as a Princess, I'm more asking you as a request from someone in need. Of course I will not hesitate to make it an order if I need to. But that doesn't mean that I won't punish you if you decline, I'm not a tyrant after all. In fact I'm not even the true leader of Arendelle, just the Princess. And though I have some jurisdiction, I haven't any of my guards or knights with me at the moment. Unless you count Prince Hans, but he's from another Kingdom and isn't obligated to protect me. He just came with me because he wanted to help me, but he's been really kind and has been by my side this whole journey…" Anna once again found herself rambling on to someone else. The Ice Harvester felt like his ears were going to fall off as he continued to listen to this woman move her mouth as sentences and sentences spilled out of her. "So… what do you say?" Anna asked with a pleading smile.
The man shook his head, trying to clear out what he had heard and only focused on the task at hand. "Let me get this straight, you expect me, someone you do not know and just met. To take you, the Princess of Arendelle and her companion, up to the North Mountain that could be dangerous with wildlife and narrow paths littered with deadly icicles?"
Anna blinked, grateful he was able to understand all of her gibberish. "...Yes…"
The man was baffled at her answer as she said it so casually. "And what makes you think I would be willing to take you in my sleigh up to the North Mountain?" He questioned with slight irritation.
"Well for one thing, I helped get you your equipment that you couldn't afford." Anna pointed out.
"I didn't ask for your help nor did I need it." He spat.
The Princess was taken aback by his attitude. "Even though Mr. Oaken would have thrown you out of the Trading Post?"
"He wouldn't have thrown me out." The man rolled his eyes. "Besides, just because you agreed to pay for the things I needed, doesn't mean I am going to return the favor."
"Well that is unfair… and quite rude!" Anna pouted. She stood on her toes to make herself appear taller, so she could seem like the bigger person in the room.
"Look, Princess…" The man stared her down, even though he was the one laying down, he still acted like the one in control. "I am an Ice Harvester, not a tour guide. I do not allow people to hop into my sleigh and take them up to where I work."
"But surely you can make an exception. It's very important that I head up to the North Mountain as soon as possible." Anna urged, standing her ground. "Please!"
"Why do you want to go up there so badly? There's nothing on that mountain but snow and ice." The blond questioned, annoyed by her persistence and just wanted her to leave.
Anna bit her lip, trying desperately to get that ride for her and Hans. They didn't have any other options, and she needed to get up to the top as soon as possible. Even though she knew she shouldn't tell him the truth, in fear of the queen's reputation, it would hopefully change his mind. Stepping forward, Anna spoke. "Because my sister is up there." Hearing those six words made the man perk up. When Anna admitted that, her face was serious as well as pleading. She was distraught, and it was clear she was only bothering the man for his assistance because she had no other options. The Princess appeared ready to cry with how upset she was due to his lack of compassion.
The man, while feeling guilty, wasn't on board at first. That was until his reindeer compion, Sven, walked over to the auburn haired woman. The animal sniffed her new outfit, as he also sensed her overwhelming emotions. Anna noticed the reindeer and couldn't help but smile, albeit a bit sad. Still, her mitten hands reached over and patted Sven's head, being careful not to touch his antlers as they were sensitive. The Ice Harvester was surprised, as Sven was never this friendly around other humans, yet he was stunned to see his companion attempting to comfort the woman. Anna giggled a bit at the noises the animal made, finding a bit of joy in the fact he sympathized with her. The sight alone somehow managed to convince the man of his decision. "...Kristoff."Anna perked when she heard the man speak, looking back over at him as the blond stood up from where he was laying. "The name is Kristoff, Ice Harvester of Arendelle and your tour guide." He introduced himself.
It was the last line he spoke that made Anna's face light up. "Does that… are you going…"
He rolled his eyes as Kristoff placed his hands on his hips. "I'm only doing this not to pay back a favor, but because the Queen is up on the North Mountain. And if anything is to happen to her… well, I can kiss my job and lifestyle goodbye. Especially considering she just gave us a donation a while ago." He tried to make an excuse, but Anna's smile indicated she knew he felt sorry for her. At least he was going to help, so she considered it a win. "Anyways, I'll get the sleigh ready." He turned around and headed to his transportation vehicle, with Sven following.
"I'll get Prince Hans!" Anna stated before she headed out of the barn. Hans stepped back when he saw the Princess running out. Based on her excitement though, the young man speculated that it went well.
"So…" Hans stepped over to Anna as he made eye contact with her. "Is that guy going to be our guide?"
Before Anna could answer, the doors to the stable opened once again revealing Sven the reindeer pulling a sleigh with his human companion on the end. Hans and Anna watched as Kristoff appeared before them, with the vehicle ready for transport. As Hans got a look at Kristoff, he was a bit surprised and intimidated by how big and muscular he looked. The blond of the humans approached the two royals, as he stood near his ride. Anna looked back over at the Prince as her smile didn't waver. "Prince Hans, meet Kristoff, the Ice Harvester and our guide up the North Mountain." The two men looked at each other, both stood there as they tried to get a read on one another based solely on their appearance. Even so, Hans did the honorable thing he was raised by and held out his dominant hand for a greeting.
"Pleasure to meet you, Kristoff the Ice Harvester." Hans declared.
The blond stared at the hand then up at the Prince. Hans waited, but the handshake never came. Instead, Kristoff turned and went to the front seat. "Put all your belongings in the back. If we leave now, we should be halfway up before the storm hits."
Hans let his arm fall to the side when he realized his friendly gesture was not returned. But he said nothing, despite being a bit offended. Anna hurriedly stuffed her own belongings into the back as she was ready to be off. At this point, all Prince Hans could do was follow their lead.