~EA~
Elsa was afraid. She just showed everyone her power. Now they will be after her. All because of a stupid argument. Hans seemed like a good man, but they just met. Far too soon for marriage. The argument hurt the Queen to the core and it grew, letting her power loose. Everything went wrong so fast. She ran and didn't even know where she was running. She pushed open doors, hoping to find somewhere to hide. But one door led to the courtyard filled with her people. They clapped and cheered for their Queen. As footsteps came closer, she rushed forward through the crowd. They were bowing as she tried to avoid tripping.
"You majesty." a woman said as she held her baby. Elsa was just afraid and backed up. A fountain spooked her and she gripped the edge. Her power turned the water into warped ice. The crowd went silent as the sight. Her power was growing.
"There she is! Stop her!" the Duke of Weselton yelled.
"Please, just stay away from me." Elsa begged. "Just stay away." she said before her power sent a blast of ice towards the Duke. Many fell to the ground unharmed, but the ice was clear for all to see. Screams and cries echoed above the feared gasps. She looked at her people. They backed away in fear of her. She had no choice. She ran and the people made room for her escape.
"Elsa!" Anna yelled. Elsa ran into a hall in the castle walls. A stairway leading down was her best chance to escape without Anna able to follow. She ran out to a small beach overlooking the harbor. She was trapped. "Elsa!" Elsa clench her hands together, afraid to hurt Anna. She backed away, fearing the worst. A crunching sound started her and she looked to see ice forming in the water, where she stepped. "Wait, please!" Anna yelled and Elsa took a step, creating more ice. Determined, she ran, creating a path of ice.
~HHH~
"Elsa, stop!" Princess Anna yelled before falling on the ice. Hiccup was following the royals trying to understand what was going on.
"Anna." a nobleman said as he put his hands on her shoulders.
"No." Anna whispered as the Queen escaped across the harbor.
"The port." Hiccup said as the ice began to freeze everything. The temperature began to drop. It was all strange. Until tonight, he thought only dragons could do such things. Now there was magic. Real magic. He was in awe. There was just so much he didn't understand.
"We should seek shelter." the noble said as snow began to fall.
"I agree, your majesty." Hiccup said as the noble helped Princess Anna up.
"Thank you both." the Princess said as the trio walked back to the Courtyard. Hiccup thought about how much Toothless would be worried with the new snowfall. He needs to head back to the farm and make sure the Night Fury was okay. But first, he was going to help. No one was prepared for an early winter. There will be confusion, fear, and anger. As they passed by the common folk, they whispered among themselves. Worried about their safety. Some were asking the Princess for answers.
"Anna, did you know about Elsa's power?" the noble asked.
"No. I didn't." Princess Anna answered as a short noble with two guards walked towards them.
"Princess Anna, it is clear that the Ice Queen has cursed this land. We need to deal with this monster." a short noble said.
"Queen Elsa is not a monster. I'm sure she didn't mean for any of this to happen." Hiccup said sharply, understanding the need to protect a secret.
"I don't know who you are, but look around you. This is all the Queen's fault." the noble said.
"This isn't Elsa's fault." the Princess agreed with Hiccup. "I'm sure Elsa can't undo this. I just need to find her." she continued before turning to a servant. "Get me a horse."
"Right away." the servant said.
"Anna, it could be dangerous." the noble argued.
"I have to agree with him." Hiccup said.
"Thank you both, but Elsa is scarred. I need to get her back." the Princess said as a horse was brought to her. The servant had also brought a cloak. "Prince Hans of the Southern Isles will watch over Arendelle in my absence."
"What if Elsa can't be trusted?" Prince Hans asked.
"Elsa will never hurt me." the Princess answered before galloping off. Hiccup walked to Prince Hans side and the noble was confused.
"What do you need, your majesty." Hiccup asked.
"Help us get warm clothes to the people. I'm certain the castle has what we need." the Prince answered and Hiccup walked with the man towards the castle.
~AA~
Anna's search for her sister wasn't going as planned. Her horse ran off earlier in the day, she fell into a cold stream, freezing, and now her dress was frozen. If only she didn't argue with Elsa. Then this winter wouldn't have happened. Maybe if Elsa had told Anna her secret, they wouldn't have been apart. So many thoughts were nagging at her as she walked to find a cabin. She made her way forward, despite the cold, and noticed a sign covered in fresh snow. She pushed it and the snow fell to reveal the name of the store. "Wandering Oaken's Trading Post." she whispered as snow fell from a smaller sign. "Oh, and Sauna." she cheerfully said. She'll need the warmth after spending so long in the freezing cold. She opened the store's door to find the shelves filled with summer supplies. As she walked searching for any winter supplies, someone whistled. She turned to see a kind looking man at a counter.
"Big summer blowout." he said with a smile. "Half-off swimming suits. Half-out clogs and a sunblock of my own invention. Ja."
"Oh, great." Anna said awkwardly, not wanting to offend the man. "For now, um, how about boots. Winter boots and dresses?"
"That would be in our winter department." he said, pointing over to a wall with only a few items.
"Oh." she whispered, wishing there were more supplies. As she walked over, an idea popped in her mind. "Um, I was just wondering. Has another young woman, the Queen, perhaps. I don't know. Passed through here?"
"Only one crazy enough to be out in this storm is you, dear." the man said as a bell rang. Anna looked over to see a man covered in snow. He shook off some of it. "You and this fellow. Woo-hoo. Big summer blowout." The snow covered man walked over to Anna and she leaned on the counter.
"Carrots." he said.
"Huh?" she said and he leaned closer.
"Behind you." he said and she folded her dress to the side, noticing that she was blocking the vegetable.
"Oh right." she said before moving out of the way. "Excuse me." she said as he grabbed the carrots.
"Oh, a real howler in July, yes." the store clerk said as the snowy man tossed the carrots on the counter. He walked over to the small winter department. "Where ever could it be coming from?" the clerk asked as the snowy man grabbed a rope and a tool.
"The North Mountain." the stranger answered.
"The North Mountain." Anna whispered, knowing Elsa must be there.
"That'll be forty." the clerk said.
"Forty? No ten." the stranger rebutted.
"Oh dear. That's no good. See, this is from our winter stock. Where supply and demand have a big problem." the clerk said.
"You want to talk about a supply and demand problem. I sell ice for a living." the stranger said.
"Oh, that's a rough business to be in right now. I mean, that is really." Anna said before catching a glimpse of his annoyance. "That's unfortunate."
"Still forty. But I will throw a visit to Oaken Sauna. Woo-hoo. Hi family." the clerk said and both customers turned to see a family enjoying the warmth.
"Twenty all I got. Help me out." the stranger pleaded.
"Okay." the clerk said as he rearranged the items on the counter. "Ten will get you this, but no more."
"Hey, just tell me one thing, what was happening on the North Mountain? Did it seem magical?" Anna asked and the stranger lowered his snow covered mask.
"Yes. Now back up. While I deal with this crook here." the man said and the clerk stood tall above both of them.
"What did you call me?" the clerk asked. The next moment the clerk grabbed the stranger's belt, lifted him up and walked towards the door. As it was happening, the man tried to apologize, kinda, but was thrown out hitting the sound. "Bye bye." the clerk said before closing the door. Anna just stared, amazed at what happened, as the clerk went back behind the counter. "I'm sorry about this violence. I have a cort of lutefisk, so we have good feelings. Just the outfit and the boots. Ja." he said and Anna thought of what happened today. She was unprepared for this winter. Maybe a guide wouldn't be bad to have.
~HHH~
Hiccup had already handed out much of the castle's goods to the people. He even had Kari rush to the shop and give out his supply of Monstrous Nightmare Gel bottles. They were popular in the winter for lighting fires. But it was summer yesterday and the shop didn't have the surplus as it does in the winter. They'll be running out soon. He'll need to go to the farm for more. It won't be much, but some is better than none. As he handed an elderly woman a blanket, she smiled before walking away. He watched as she covered a little girl with the cloth. He smiled, happy to know that people are willing to sacrifice so much for each other. He wiped off snow from a brick railing on the bridge.
"I don't think I've said thank you for your help." Prince Hans said and Hiccup stood up.
"Don't worry about. Where I come from, we've helped each other. Well, mostly." he said at the painful memory.
"We also haven't been properly introduce. Prince Hans of the Southern Isles. And you?" the Prince asked, extending his hand out. Hiccup shook it.
"Hiccup Haddock." he answered and the Prince raised an eyebrow. "Long story."
"Well, thank you, Mister Haddock. If you ever need anything, just ask." the noble said.
"If you don't me asking your majesty, why did Princess Anna ask you to watch Arendelle in her and Queen Elsa's absence?" Hiccup asked, wanting to write off one of his curious feelings.
"Well, I asked the Princess to marry me." the Prince answered and Hiccup nodded.
"Ah, you two must have known each other for a while." he noted and the Prince chuckled.
"We actually only met shorty before Queen Elsa's Coronation." he corrected and now Hiccup had more questions than answers.
"Wow, don't you think it's a bit rushed. My parents knew each other for years before marrying each other. A few days isn't enough timeto know someone." he said and the Prince chuckled, but something was off.
"Mister Haddock, I appreciate the advice, but my feelings for Anna are vastly different from your parents. I hope to see you again." he said and a turning feeling came to his stomach.
