Act 3 Scene 5
The morning sun finally stretched across the land, beaming its rays onto surfaces and into hidden passageways. The light invaded the cave our group had found themselves in during the stormy night. The brightness of the sun and chirping of the birds was enough to have woken the Princess of Arendelle out of her slumber. Anna's eyes fluttered open, becoming aware of where she was. The air was still chilly, but it was not overly freezing as last night. She found herself resting on Hans's chest as she had slept next to him during the night. She remembered falling asleep while he was reading her the story of Cailleach, but she managed to retain most of the information. When she realized how close she was to Hans, she adjusted herself and began to sit up. Her movement caused the Prince of the Southern Isles to wake as well.
"Princess?" He stared at her with tired eyes, still trying to shake off that sleepiness. By the time he realized how close Anna was to him, he felt his face heat up in embarrassment. Hans moved away from Anna as quickly as he could. "I-I am so sorry!" He apologized flustered by the closeness the two shared.
The Princess merely stared at the Prince in confusion, as he was embarrassed but she did not understand why. "Oh, it's fine really." She tried to reassure him. Anna wondered why Hans was so sheepish, maybe because of how often he was put down by his family? "Sorry if I slept through the ending of the story. But I think I got most of the plot… even if some of it was foreign. Though that should be expected, given it's a story from a different culture and time period. So of course there might be some references I will not be able to understand. But it was still entertaining, which makes me wish I had read it sooner." She laughed nervously. Hearing her ramble on did help Hans to calm himself, as he noticed how awkward she was which made him feel less awkward. "Do you think I could get a copy of that book? I don't know if you brought another one, and I don't want to take your only source. But I also don't want to trouble you with getting me one since it seems like a personal request…"
The Prince found himself bearing a humble smile, as he couldn't help but admire Anna's charm. "I'll… be sure to get you a copy." He promised her. The Princess grinned back at him, liking the thought of learning more about the Pagans.
The touching moment was interrupted by the groan of the other man within the cave. "Can you two keep your royal traps shut? Some of us are trying to sleep in." Kristoff grunted, nuzzling his face into the fluff of Sven's body. The reindeer grunted as he shared his owner's need for rest.
Hans and Anna were perplexed when they saw the blonde being able to sleep in such conditions, and annoyed by his rudeness. "Aren't Ice Harvesters supposed to be earlier risers?" Hans questioned.
Kristoff lifted himself from his animal pillow, staring at the Prince with a tired expression. "Yes, we are. But, I'm off duty as I am focusing on getting you two up the North Mountain." He grumbled before falling back into the fur.
Anna stared at him, as he was adamant on getting more sleep, despite the sun already being out. With the light casting on the group, the Princess decided to take the innovation and check outside to determine if it was safe to travel. Getting up on her feet, she walked over to the entrance and peeked outside. There was no harsh wind that met her face, so that was a good sign. The strawberry blond took more steps until she was in the openness of the Mountain. Her eyes went wide as she was greeted by the sights of her homeland. Thick blankets of white powder covered the ground, as they sparkled when light from the sun hit the snow. The trees towered over Anna, as they too had been wrapped around in the same substance, but each decorated differently. The pine trees with their branches spaced out, had tints of green below the surface of the flakes. Her eyes sighed, being taken back to her younger years when her family would go up to the lower side of the Mountain and do some sledding. Sure, Elsa had her powers, but even she couldn't create a mountain.
Eventually, the Prince and Ice Harvester along with Sven, emerged from the cave to take a look at their environment. Kristoff and Sven shared a yawn, while Hans was vigilant as he wanted to make sure they were not being stalked by the wolves from last night. Anna was the only one truly admiring the scenery. "Isn't it beautiful?" She asked them, holding her hands together while her feet bounced on their heels.
Kristoff rubbed his neck to ease any cramps he had from his sleeping positions. "It's just another snow covered field with snow covered trees. You see this kind of stuff pretty much everywhere that's surrounding Arendelle." He stated with no amusement.
Hans knelt down to the snow, pushing his arm into the powder so he could measure how deep it was. When his hand reached what he thought had to be grass, he noticed the snow went just a few inches below his shoulder. The Prince gasped in fascination. "We have all the seasons on the Southern Isles, even winter. But our snow has never been this thick or deep before. It's surprising you can even manage to live in these conditions."
Kristoff turned to the Prince, rolling his eyes at his conclusions. "You have to be able to get used to the cold and snow if you want to live in Arendelle. We all had to adapt, and we managed to survive."
Hans pulled his hand out from the snow, shaking it to try and remove the cold. He adjusted his bag over his shoulders, making sure he had everything secure. Anna looked around, trying to figure out where to go. Her ears picked up a faint sound nearby. She turned her head in the direction, then followed the noise. "Princess Anna?" Hans called out.
"Now where is she going?" Kristoff sighed, as he, Hans and Sven followed after the young woman. The Princess walked briskly towards the source of trickling water. She led the others, trudging through the snow until she found herself at the edge of a new area. By the time the others caught up to her, they were marveled by the scenery. Before them was a running river, with fish flowing up the current to try and head to the ocean below. Surrounding them were more trees of a different breed. Their brown branches were bare of leaves, instead they were decorated with long strings of ice crystals. Some strands were small, others were long, no two strands had the same number of beads. When the light hit the crystals on the branches, it made the snow go from a pure white, to soft shades of pink. The sun made the ice beads shine, creating a small illumination show for the group.
The humans were at a loss for words, staring at the scenery as it was something none of them had ever seen. "It's like something out of a fairy tale…" Hans breathed.
Kristoff stepped forward, looking almost impressed. "I've started to scale this Mountain since I could walk. And every year, I go higher than the last time. I thought I saw every inch and corner of this snow covered rock. But I have never witnessed anything like this." The fact that the Ice Harvester was taken aback by the environment meant he was just as immersed.
Anna chuckled, going over to one of the trees with the strings of ice beads. Sven followed behind, curious as the animal sniffed some of the crystals attached to the lines. The Princess held onto a few of the strands, looking into the small orbs of glass as they shone upon hitting the light from an angle. While she was gentle with the lines, the reindeer had other plans. Sven had tried to eat some of the crystals, but a few of the snow cords tangled around his antlers. When he realized this, he shook his head to try and get them off, but quickly stopped when he heard something. Every time he moved his head, the beads of ice attached to the twine would chime like bells. When Anna heard this, she let out some giggles of enthusiasm. Hearing her laugh must have been enough, because Sven didn't seem to mind the strings. Instead, he continued to shake about so the soft ringing could be heard.
Kristoff and Hans approached Anna and Sven, watching their interaction. The Ice Harvester went to his reindeer companion. "Well, glad to see one of us is having fun." The blonde muttered to Sven. He turned to his owner, tilting his head and snorted in his face. Kristoff shuddered, wiping his mouth. He wasn't disgusted though, rather amused. "Do you want me to take those off you?" He asked.
Kristoff responded to Sven in a higher pitched voice. "No." He even threw a neigh at the end.
"You can't keep those on you forever." Kristoff told Sven using his own voice.
"But they are pretty and make music."
Kristoff rolled his eyes as he was talking to Sven using his own mouth. "Fine… you can keep them on." Instead of the human responding, Sven was the one who grunted in approval.
Hans went over to Anna's side, watching the interaction between Kristoff and Sven. He was perplexed and a bit weirded out by their close companionship. "They certainly have a… questionable relationship." The Prince muttered.
"I think it's sweet," Anna chimed in. "Besides, it proves your point that it's not just Princesses that can have a strong bond with animals. Guys can too. Even if they aren't Princes." She reminded Hans of their one conversation from the sleigh before being chased by the wolves. The Southern Isles Prince could not object to that, so he merely nodded in agreement. Anna went back to gently moving the cords of snow and ice crystals around, watching them catch the light of the sun and making the softest of chimes. She was lost in her own world for a moment, so when she started to speak, Hans merely listened. "I've heard so many people talk about Winter in a negative light. I even heard a song that the Ice Harvesters would sing to warn them."
"A song?" Hans inquired.
Anna nodded. "I forgot how it went though… I think it was… "Born of cold and winter air and mountain rain combining…This icy force, both foul and fair, has a frozen heart worth mining." Anna started to sing, looking over the land of snow and ice. As she sang, Kristoff and Sven heard her, watching her sing the song of their occupation. "I uh… forgot the rest of the song…" Anna admitted, as she was drawing a blank of the lyrics that came after it.
Hans looked at the Princess, as she was stumped about the song. He was about to say something, only for Kristoff to interject in his own singing voice. "So cut through the heart, cold and clear. Strike for love and strike for fear!" Both royals turned to face the Ice Harvester as he sang out with his part. Hans was impressed by how powerful Kristoff's singing was. Anna was ecstatic as she heard him, now being reminded of the song.
"See the beauty, sharp and clear!" She added.
Kristoff sang more. "Split the ice apart!"
The two came together to sing in unison. "And break the frozen heart!"
Hans and Sven watched as the Princess and Ice Harvester sang together, listening to the song and the voices that carried the tunes.
"Beautiful! Powerful!" Anna cried.
"Dangerous! Cold!" Kristoff interjected. "Ice has a magic can't be controlled! Stronger than one, stronger than ten. Stronger than a hundred men, ha!"
Anna added her part. "Born of cold and winter air and mountain rain combining!"
"This icy force, both foul and fair, has a frozen heart worth mining!"
"Cut through the heart," Anna demanded.
Kristoff retorted. "Cold and clear!"
"Strike for love,"
"And strike for fear!"
"There's beauty," Anna argued.
"And there's danger here!"
The two of them managed to come together in the end to sing the final line in harmony. "Split the ice apart, beware the frozen heart!"
When the hymn came to an end, Anna and Kristoff stared into each other's eyes as they had finished. Both were a bit out of breath from using their voices to carry a tune. The two pulled away from each other, Anna amazed by Kristoff's talent as the Ice Harvester had a smudged face. "Word of advice Princess, leave the Ice Harvester anthem to the professionals." He teased her. Even though Anna should have felt offended by his remark, she was actually astounded that he was being playful. It was quite refreshing for the Princess to see the stone-cold, pessimistic Kristoff begin to open up to them.
Hans found himself being amused by the song. He actually found it interesting. "It certainly sounds like an upbeat song…" He commented.
Kristoff turned towards the male royalty, interjecting on his observation. "Maybe the way we sang it, but if you paid attention, it talks about the dangers of working in a cold environment. The ice is slippery and one wrong step, you could fall and break something. Or the ice on the waters isn't thick enough, so if it has too much pressure, you could find yourself being pulled into the cold waters and sink to the bottom." As Kristoff explained, he approached the other two humans. His smile curled up, while his eyes narrowed. Such an expression sparked a bit of fear in Anna and Hans, listening to the horrors that the Ice Harvester had to tell. "The snow could become as tall as a person, for those who travel you may not be able to see the end of the horizon. And if you end up falling, while the flakes may be soft enough to cushion you, your body would end up buried in a freezing blanket to the point your body is overcome with numbness. Then there's the wind… depending on the direction it's blowing, it will carry an army of snow particles and will push you down."
At this point, even Sven was shuddering from the scary tales Kristoff was retelling. Hans appeared as freaked out as the animal, but Anna had a hint of curiosity within her eyes. "How do you know all of this?" The Princess had to ask.
Kristoff noticed her lack of fear, which caused him to pull back from his hunching position. "My father told me these tales," Kristoff began to explain. "He grew up in the Ice Harvester business like I did. And these tales are events that happened to many of the workers. The song, our anthem, is to remind us never to underestimate the environment of Arendelle. It is as cruel as it is cold. Just like the Goddess Skadi herself, who had a chilling personality and body. A frozen heart, they told us." Kristoff sighed, shaking his head. The mention of their Goddess caused the other two to raise their ears. "Arendelle has been in year-long winters for many centuries. We never knew any other seasons. Honestly, I don't even think anyone knows what Spring, Summer and Autumn are. I… heard about it from an… elder of mine." He trailed off when he talked about this older person. But he quickly continued with his thoughts.
"She once told me that Arendelle wasn't always covered in snow. That there was a time when the grass was green and flowers sprung. Where there could be warmth from the sun… and everything had a chance to die off before being hammered with the cold and ice. I don't think anyone could ever imagine Arendelle without being blanketed by frost. That's how long it has been, according to her." A soft smile spread on Kristoff's face, but it had a melancholy tone on the lips. "I guess at this point, a person can only dream of what a life like that could be…"
Anna approached the Ice Harvester, sympathy in her eyes as she couldn't believe how vulnerable he was being towards them. "I can't imagine what being an Ice Harvester must entail… but I've heard that such a job is dangerous. That's why they don't let just anyone be in such a profession." Anna remembered hearing her parents discuss the conditions of the group. How they had to risk many men just to collect the ice needed for their trade to the Southern Isles. An export that was quite difficult to gather. "I can only imagine how many men you had to watch… perish."
Kristoff raised a brow at the Princess, a bit cautious that she was close and talking to him so casually. However, he didn't pull away and merely shrugged. "Too many. You become numb to it, eventually. But it's all the more reason we have been taught to fear the Winter. It's cruel, unforgiving, and can not be controlled. It will take your loved ones away in the blink of an eye if you aren't careful."
While Anna could understand where Kristoff was coming from, she was reminded of her older sister. Elsa had been able to control the very Winter since she was born, something she never asked for yet was chosen to have such abilities. Even so, Anna knew that despite her magic, Elsa would never intentionally hurt anyone. "Even so," the Princess interjected. "Just because you see Winter as dangerous, doesn't mean we all should." Her hands gestured around the very area they were in, taking in the stunning environment. "It's like the song says, Winter can be beautiful if we see it from a different angle. There is more to nature and people than what we first believe. Maybe I am biased, but I grew up in an environment where the snow was… my friend." Anna began to smile as memories of her childhood played in her mind. "Whenever I was sad, I would turn my sorrows into laughter by sledding down the tallest hill I could find. Until the rush of cool air pushed back my tears and my mouth screamed with excitement. When I was overwhelmed with my studies and felt stressed, my hands would work on the snow to create such fascinating and unique sculptures to let my creative side take over. But most importantly, when I felt alone, I would lay on the snow and look around. Seeing my family making snowpeople on the ground, as a reminder that we would always be together, no matter how far apart we were." To Kristoff, it sounded like Anna was talking about the season itself. In reality, she was thinking back to Elsa and how she would use her magic to cheer Anna up whenever she was feeling down. She had always looked after her younger sister, even when the older one was having doubts and insecurities.
Anna perked her head up, eyes wide with determination and resilience. "To me, Winter is my home! She can knock me down, make me cold, turn me to ice, but I will always consider her a part of me. And even when there are times we may not get along or see eye to eye, I know she will always be there for me when I need her the most. So therefore, I will never give up on Winter or see her as anything other than beautiful and strong!"
Kristoff was taken aback by Anna's speech. He knew the Princess was an oddball, but to think she would be so passionate about a mere season. Was she only talking about Winter or… something else? Hans smiled at Anna, approaching her to stand by her side. "You have a pure heart, Princess Anna. It is remarkable that you see the good in anything, no matter the situation. To me… I consider that a trait suitable for a Princess."
Anna mused up at Hans with his comment. She was grateful he was on her side. Kristoff shook his head. "You are a crazy Princess…" He muttered. Anna shrugged. She didn't care what the Ice Harvester thought of her. If anything, her speech only made her more motivated to find Elsa and bring her back. Her basking moment fell flat when noises began to come from Sven. The humans turned to the reindeer, seeing him grunt as his ears were up, staring off in the distance. Kristoff went over to his companion. "What is it, bud?" He seemed to have been startled.
"What's wrong?" Anna asked. "Does he sense the wolves again!?" She gasped.
Kristoff shook his head. "He's not overly alert, so it doesn't sound like there's any danger." He reassured the Princess.
Hans was perplexed by the animals' reaction, until his ears picked up a faint sound. He couldn't make it out well at first due to the noise. "Shh… listen." He hushed the group, listening closely. Anna and Kristoff followed his lead, trying to listen.
"...Come on… no, not that one…. Ah! Okay… I'm higher now…" A voice close by, which surprised everyone.
"Someone else is up here!" Anna realized.
"Do you think it's the Queen?" Hans blurted.
Kristoff listened to the voice again, making an assessment. "Unless Queen Elsa sounds like a man, I don't think so." He retorted, which caused Hans to lose his amusement for a second. "The only ones I can think of up here would be the Ice Harvesters. But they shouldn't be up so high this early in the day. Especially after a storm last night." Now Kristoff was confused as to who's voice that could be.
Anna, being overtaken by curiosity, headed towards the source much to the dismay of the others. Despite their objections, Hans, Kristoff and Sven followed her as she circled around the lake. She headed towards the source, the closer she got the louder the voice became. Once they had walked halfway around the body of water, Anna's eyes kept on the lookout but at first she saw no sign of any other life. The Princess was puzzled, as she knew someone was close but she couldn't see them. She hummed, placing her hands on her hips as she waited for the voice to come out. Kristoff and Hans scanned the area, but their eyes came up empty. They were stumped for a moment, then Hans felt some snow fall on his shoulders. He shuddered, feeling the powder on his body before he dusted it off.
"Sorry about that!" The voice called above him.
Hans waved his hand. "Don't worry, it's just-" He trailed off in his sentence as he heard that man! The Prince whipped his head to meet the Ice Harvester and Princess, as all three came to the same conclusion. All three of them and Sven looked upwards, noticing a large body hanging from the trees, being cradled by multiple strands of the ice beads. It was hard to get a good look at him, since he was a bit high up but he looked to be quite a big guy.
"Dear Skadi!" Anna gasped, seeing the person dangling up within the vines.
"Hello? Is someone down there?" The guy asked, swinging slightly as he could hear Anna.
"Y-yes… we're right below you!" Hans called out.
"Oh! Thank goodness. I've been up here for… well, I can't tell the exact time, but it feels like quite a while. Can you help me get down?" The man above them begged.
Anna didn't hesitate. "Don't worry, we'll help you!"
Kristoff turned his gaze to the Princess. "We will?" He blurted.
Anna looked back at him. "Kristoff, we can't leave him like this!"
"What do you want us to do?"
"Cut him down!" Anna ordered.
He merely looked at her with contempt. "You can't be serious." But her raised brow and harsh glare proved otherwise. "Alright, alright." Kristoff raised his hands, knowing he had been beaten. He reached into his pants pocket and took out a knife. Putting the blade between his teeth, he motioned for Sven to come over to the tree. Anna and Hans watched Kristoff use Sven to climb on his back and hug the trunk, climbing up the tree as he got as close to the vines as he could. With one hand and both legs hugging the trunk, he used the free limb to hold the knife and began to swing at the strands.
"Be careful!" Anna called out to him.
"Relax, I know what I'm doing." Kristoff reassured her, already slicing through a few of them. "Step back!" He warned. After a few more cuts, the man in the vines began to fall towards the ground. Anna and Hans rushed away, being spectators as the one who had been in the trees finally tumbled down and was caught by the snow. Flakes sprinkled in the air from the impact, waiting for the scene to settle before they did anything. Kristoff jumped from the tree and landed on the ground, joining the others.
Anna moved forward to check on the one who had fallen. "Are you okay?" The Princess approached, wanting to comfort the guy. She paused in her movements when she saw the man from the tree begin to stir onto his feet. The woman's mouth dropped, as she watched the person stand, towering over her and the others easily. He cracked his blue back with his large arms, grunting a bit.
"Yeah… luckily I'm just made of ice and snow, or that would have really hurt." The creature told them.
Anna jumped back, seeing the giant of blue skin and white markings before her. Sven, Kristoff and Hans were on guard, but while the Ice Harvester was cautious, Anna and Hans were curious. The Prince awed at the giant, fascinated by the appearance. "...Incredible…" He breathed.
"No way…" Anna whispered, as her eyes couldn't help but stare at the one before her.
The tall blue man dusted his body, then looked over at the blond with a goofy smile. "Thanks for getting me out of there. I thought I could climb the trees to get a better look around the area. But the next thing I knew, these strange white strings with ice chunks on them wrapped around me. The more I struggled, the more tangled I became! Next thing I knew, I was dangling in a messy vine hammock." He explained.
Kristoff lowered his guard slightly, only because of the way the creature was talking. He seemed pretty nonchalant, and he wasn't hostile or territorial despite being non-human. He was pretty grateful, but there were still some things Kristoff was missing. The Ice Harvester looked back up at where the creature had been held captive, asking his pondering thoughts. "And you were in the tree to look around the area because?" He turned to the ice man, pressing to learn what he was doing.
"I was trying to get to Arendelle."
"Arendelle?" Anna perked up when she heard his answer. "Why were you going there?"
"Oh, Elsa sent me to go find her sister, Anna." The guy explained.
Anna's whole face lit up at the mention. A smile adored her lips as she approached the creature of ice and snow. "Elsa sent you?! My sister?!"
"Sister? Wait… are you… Anna?"
The Princess nodded vigorously. "Yes! You know Elsa? Where is she? Is she alright?" She asked question after question, moving closer to the towering being of ice and snow as her curiosity turned to hope which took over her actions.
Hans stepped over, placing an arm in front of Anna to try and calm her down. "Stand down, Princess. We should do some introductions first before going further." Hans told her.
Anna looked at the Prince, realizing that the creature before them must be confused. She felt the embarrassment boil in her face as she had a nervous smile. "Sorry… I'm Princess Anna of Arendelle." She introduced herself before turning her attention to Hans. "And this is Hans, the Prince of the Southern Isles."
The ice giant nodded as he knew who they were now. "And who is the funny looking one with the long face?" He asked as he looked over at Kristoff and Sven.
"That's Sven." Anna introduced the animal, who stared at the group.
"Got it… now who's the reindeer?" He pointed over at Sven. Kristoff took offense to his statement, while Hans couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle. The Ice Harvester glared at the Prince, who noticed immediately. His giggles turned into a cough while trying to avoid eye contact with the blonde.
"T-That's Sven." Anna tried to explain while also holding back a bit of laughter.
"Huh, must be a common name around these parts." He noted.
Anna let out another giggle, which earned her a harsh look from Kristoff. She quickly changed the subject. "And… What's your name?"
"I'm Olaf, at least that's what Elsa named me." He told the Princess.
Upon hearing that name, Anna blinked as she recognized it. "Olaf?" She repeated. A memory played out in her head again, as she remembered making snow creatures with her sister. She had come up with the names of many of them, but one in particular stood out to her. "Olaf! I can't believe she remembered!" A grin dawn on the Princess's face, her optimism spiking at the revelation that her sister must have been thinking about Anna!
Olaf noted how happy she was, but wasn't sure why that was. Still, he managed to accomplish half of his mission, since he found Anna. "Well, Elsa had instructed me to locate her sister, Anna, which sounds like you. I'm supposed to bring you back to meet up with Elsa since she wants to talk."
"Elsa wants to talk? With me!?" Anna felt the positivity rising in her. "I knew it!" Anna jumped in joy, as her smile kept stretching. "I knew deep down Elsa wouldn't want to leave her family and Kingdom behind! She was just overwhelmed with being exposed and now that she's calmed down, she wants to apologize and come back!"
"Uh… Princess, maybe there's more-" Hans tried to interject, but Anna continued to speak louder.
"And the fact she wants to summon me to talk shows she really wants to bury this mess and strive forward."
"Is that really what's happening?" Kristoff questioned as he was as skeptical about this as Hans.
Anna ignored their concerns, turning to Olaf as her mind had been made up. "Alright Olaf, take me to my sister, Elsa!" She declared.
The ice giant smiled in a goofy fashion. "Can do, follow me Anna, sister of Elsa!" With that, he began to head towards Elsa's location. Anna followed close behind him, practically skipping as she was going to be reunited with her sister very soon. The other two humans and reindeer followed with no other choice, keeping towards the back while Anna and Olaf talked. As they were walking through the fields of snow, Anna decided to pass the time by talking with Olaf. "So, how do you know Elsa?"
Olaf looked at the Princess as she asked that question. "Oh, your sister created me. She was making some ice and snow sculptures which I was one of."
That took Anna off guard. "Wait… she made you? And you came alive?" That was the part that baffled her.
Olaf was just as confused as she was. "Why is my coming alive baffling everyone?"
"S-sorry…" Anna apologized. "I didn't mean to offend you on that. It's just, Elsa has made a bunch of statues and snow people many times. Especially back when we were kids. Though she wasn't as skilled as she probably is now. Given how much detail she put into you, I can tell she has improved. Which is good, because this must mean she is having better control over her powers. She was worried that she wouldn't be able to handle her magic, which was the reason she left. At least why I assumed she left, but it makes sense now that I say it outloud. Though the fact she is wanting to talk to me must mean she is comfortable enough to be around people without worrying about hurting them. I'm a bit surprised that she was able to manage herself in such a short time, but also grateful because hopefully this means I won't have to persuade her too much to return back to Arendelle. But, getting back to you being alive. While my sister has made many sculptures out of snow and ice before, none of them have ever grown a… conscious per say. So it's no surprise why the two of us are baffled. But it's not a bad thing, it's really fascinating that you came to life because that has never happened before. I'm wondering how Elsa managed to do it, though based on how shocked you say she was, she clearly didn't do it on purpose. I wonder if this has something to do with her magic or maybe it was just the environment?"
As Anna pondered that statement, her eyes widened when she realized how long her mouth had been running. "Oh, sorry. Was I talking too much? I uh… have that habit." She apologized to Olaf.
The ice giant shrugged. "It's no big deal. You're only the second person I've talked to since coming alive, and you helped explain a few things." He reassured her. "Honestly, I don't really know why I'm… alive. One minute I was just standing still like I was frozen, no pun intended, and the next thing I knew… I can move and talk. I thought that's what Elsa wanted, but when she denied it, it just left the both of us questioning things."
"Well, there must be a reason why you are here." Anna tried to fathom. "Even if it wasn't intentional for Elsa…Maybe you were alive to try and reunite us!"
"Well, that is my mission." Olaf admitted. "And I was curious to learn more about you since Elsa told me you gave me my name."
Anna chuckled at his remark. "Well, I came up with the name for one of the snow creations Elsa made with me when we were kids. I'm surprised she still remembered it. I gave that name to a snow troll."
"What's a snow troll?"
"It was an idea I had for a crossbred troll and frost giant. Elsa mocked me that such a thing didn't exist, but I always hoped to see one." Anna's eyes landed back on Olaf, noticing his physique in detail. "Come to think of it, you have the physical build of a Troll with your round belly and limbs, but your body is made of ice and has white markings, like a Frost Giant."
Olaf looked over his own body when she mentioned that, humming at the concept. "When you put it like that… maybe I am this Snow Troll you thought of."
Anna mused at his realization. "Well, whatever you are, I'm grateful for your help Olaf."
"You're welcome. And you are a pretty nice person yourself, Anna."
"Aww, thank you." She was touched by his compliment.
While the Princess and ice creature were talking, the Prince and Ice Harvester had their conversation. "So, how weird is this according to you?" Hans asked Kristoff as they continued to walk behind the other two.
The blond sighed. "Honestly, I don't even know what to believe in anymore. Just when you think you've seen it all, somehow Skadi decides to throw you a new kind of weird."
"Let's just be grateful that Olaf was not hostile. And he seems to want to help us." Hans pointed out.
"Or he's taking us back to his lair and plans on making human-made stew." Kristoff remarked with only a hint of sarcasm.
Hans turned his gaze over to Olaf, eyes wide with fascination. "Be serious, imagine yourself face to face with a creature from legend itself. A Frost Giant, living up in the mountains. And the fact he is close to Elsa means he is quite friendly."
The Ice Harvester glanced at the Prince with a questionable furrow of his brow. "If you are as knowledgeable about myths and history as you say you are, then you should know that Frost Giants aren't known for being friendly."
He thought that statement would have offended Hans, like many of his others did before. Instead, Kristoff was surprised when the Prince glanced back at him to make his own remark. "Says the one who worships a Frost Giant as their deity."
"That's different," Kristoff objected. "Skadi is a Goddess first, and a Frost Giant second!"
"But didn't she only become a Goddess through marriage to the sea God, Njord?" Hans corrected.
Kristoff continued to glare at the Prince, but Hans played him with a smirk as he knew he had won. The Ice Harvester scoffed as he crossed his arms, annoyed by the royal. "Let's see how far those book smarts of yours get when you find yourself trapped on the Mountain by yourself." Hans continued to muse as he had a victory over Kristoff. He wasn't the type to be prideful, but it was still good to have one over someone who mocked you.
With a bit more walking, they headed over the snowy hills as they followed Olaf. Their long journey had finally been rewarded. Upon the edge, they came across a sight to behold. "Here we are!" Olaf gestured to the humans and reindeer. The group stared at the large building that was attached to the side of the mountain. A castle made of pure, thick ice that shone in the light of the morning sun. Once again, it was as if they had been transported to a fairytale setting. The structure looked strong, yet it sparkled so beautifully.
"Woah…" Anna gasped, amazed by the castle as it was nothing like the one she had lived in. "Elsa made this?"
"Yep, it took her all night to make." Olaf answered as he continued towards the staircase leading towards the entrance.
Kristoff's eyes were wider than his stomach, as he was mesmerized by the sheer craftsmanship of the building. He had never seen ice be used in such a towering yet elegant way. From the shapes to the widths, tears began to well up in his eyes. "It's… so beautiful…" He sniffled.
Hans and Anna noticed his reaction, seeing him caress the rails of the staircase while his face was nearly pressed to the material. "Uh… you okay?" Anna asked Kristoff, who ignored her and continued to admire the ice.
Olaf noticed the blonde's reaction, and was just as baffled. "Sven really likes ice, huh?"
"Well… he is an Ice Harvester." Hans admitted.
They traveled up the staircase, following Olaf who led them up the front where two large doors separated them from inside the Castle. "Elsa is on the other side, waiting." The Snow Troll instructed.
Anna stared at the gate, standing there as she seemed lost in thought. Hans noticed Anna's hesitation, which was out of character for her. "Princess?" He spoke to her with concern. Anna held her hands together, pressed her feet close as she suddenly felt scared. She didn't understand why at first though. "Princess Anna… what's wrong?" Hans asked again, trying to get her attention.
"I… I don't know." She admitted, twiddling her fingers as she stared at the ground. "I mean, I knew this was going to happen eventually. The whole reason for me coming up here was to find Elsa and talk to her, convince her to come back to Arendelle. But… now that it's here… it's overwhelming and underwhelming at the same time. What if I mess it up? What if I can't convince her to come back?"
Her fears were justifiable. Even though they had been through so much to reach their destination, their goal had not yet been completed. One wrong move, and all their efforts would have been for nothing. Hans wasn't sure what he could say to Anna, since he was worried about giving her the incorrect advice. And at the moment, Kristoff was of no help since he was distracted by the pretty ice. The only one who stepped forward to give her some hope was the one made of ice and snow himself. "You won't know unless you try, right?" Olaf asked Anna.
The Princess managed to turn her gaze to the Snow Troll, looking at him as he tilted his head. "Right… but… I still feel like I will make some kind of mistake."
"Mistakes are meant to be made, but they're worthless unless we learn from them." Olaf pointed out. "So, whatever you do, go in and if what you do doesn't work, learn from those mistakes and try a different method."
Hans was impressed by Olaf's wisdom, for a relaxed guy, he certainly had some top tier level advice. "That was… pretty well stated Olaf." The Prince commented.
"Aww, thanks." Olaf grinned. For a moment, Anna felt optimistic again as she looked back between the Prince and Iceman. "And hey, it's not like it will be the end of the world if you can't get Elsa to come back. I mean sure, you won't be able to have your sister in your life. You two will end up parting ways, family bond broken, a Kingdom torn apart. Years will pass as you will go further on your own separate ways. Eventually, you will end up forgetting each other, and living with a constant regret of what you had done wrong. Always wondering what could have been and thinking about a future where you two did reconcile which slipped away because you said the wrong thing or didn't say the right thing!" Olaf exaggerated with each sentence, making Anna more and more nervous as he continued his descent into madness. The Snow Troll took in a deep breath, readjusting himself before giving out his goofy smile. "But no pressure."
Anna's eyes wavered, as she could now only imagine the horrible possibilities if this reunion does go south. Though she tried to be brave, that hesitation and doubt were creeping their way back into her mind. Hans tried to reassure her. "You'll be alright, just… be honest with her. Do what you do best."
"Mess everything up by talking too much?" Anna questioned.
Hans shook his head and held her hand. "Reassure your sister. You have a way of getting through to people and opening them up. It happened with Elsa once, so logically, it can happen again."
Somehow, Hans's words did manage to calm Anna. She was reminded of the many times the Princess would knock on her sisters' door, begging her to come out of her room to play. No matter how many times Elsa rejected, Anna remained persistent because she believed that eventually, Elsa would want to spend time with her again. Despite the passing of years and the death of her parents, Anna continued to be there for Elsa no matter the situation. And her determination did pay off in the end, because for those three years, they had gotten closer after over a decade of separation. Despite the doubts and fears swirling within Anna, the Princess knew that she could not walk away. She had just gotten her sister back, she was not going to abandon her and move on so easily. With a heavy nod, Anna knew what she had to do. Her eyes went back to Hans, giving him a smile that showed hope. "Thanks Hans."
The Prince grinned back, he didn't know why but he felt… good. He was enjoying this journey and felt accomplished by helping Anna reunite with her sister. That feeling ended up outweighing his original goal his brothers set for him. But he didn't care, so long as Anna was happy. Kristoff finally managed to walk over to the ground, still being fascinated by the structure and shapes of the ice. Sven eventually managed to get up the steps, despite how difficult it was given his hooves. The Princess of Arendelle pulled away from Hans before she spoke. "I'm going in to talk to her. And… it might be better if I do so alone." Anna told them.
"What!?" Kristoff managed to look up from examining the ice, staring at Anna as he looked quite hurt.
Hans seemed just as confused. "Are you sure that's wise?"
Anna could sense their concern, but she had to be adamant. "This is a family matter… and I don't want Elsa to feel any more pressure. After all, it was because of the judgment of some of the towns folk that made her want to run away. This is between me and my sister."
Hans nodded in understanding, while Kristoff stuttered. "But… but… Oh come on! It's a palace made of ice!" The blond gestured towards the structure. "Ice is my life!"
Anna and Hans had to admit, it was odd seeing the Ice Harvester show different emotions aside from pride and judgment. Olaf was the most confused as he looked at Kristoff. "I want to say that's the saddest thing I've ever heard… but I don't know much about you Sven, so I can't really make an assessment." The Snow Troll admitted. Once again, both royals suddenly found themselves bellowing a low chuckle. Kristoff noticed this and gave them both a glare.
Wiping the smirk off her face, Anna looked at the Ice Harvester. "Look, give Elsa and I some privacy to talk things over. When I convince her to come back with us, I'll make sure you get a tour of the palace from inside before we head back down the mountain. Deal?" Kristoff opened his mouth, trying to form some more words in an attempt to argue. Anna however stood her ground, indicating she would not make any acceptions. Knowing he was defeated, Kristoff folded his arms over his chest and looked away with a pout.
Hans looked back at Anna and gave a nod of reassurance. "We'll all stay out here… but if things go wrong, yell for us."
The Princess agreed. "I will…" With that, she turned on her heels and went inside of the palace. The doors automatically closed on their own once Anna found herself within the entrance. Her eyes gazed around to take a look at the details. Before her was a double staircase with an ice fountain in between them. Pillars of thick ice held the structure together, all leading up to the roof where the Arendelle Snowflake was etched. It truly was breathtaking, to be within the very confides of what Elsa had created with her magic. "Elsa?" Anna called out, not able to find her sister right away. "Are you there? It's me, Anna…" She wondered if she could hear the Princess from the entrance. The echo seemed strong but she didn't know how grand this place truly was.
Little did she know, the Snow Queen herself was closer than she thought. Elsa hid behind a wall, so she wouldn't be out in the open for Anna to see. The older woman took some deep breaths as her anxiety was spiking. "She's here now?" She muttered to herself low enough so the echo wouldn't repeat her words. "It's a lot sooner than I thought." Elsa realized Anna must have already been on her way to find her sister, which explained why it didn't take Olaf that long to bring her back. She had hoped there would be more time for her to get her speech ready, but suddenly she was unprepared. "Okay, minor setback… just… talk to her." Elsa told herself, tapping her chin to come up with an opening. "Hey Anna… glad you could come up all this way. The frostbite didn't get you, did it?" She thought of opening with a warm welcome mixed with a joke, but that idea was shot down as she hated the phrasing. She tried another opening line. "Anna, I appreciate you making the journey to meet me, as there is much we have to discuss if we are to have a harmonic future." No, that sounded too professional. She wasn't talking to a diplomat, she would be having a conversation with her sister!
Elsa was stumped, when it came to discussing meetings with her court, she would talk circles around them. Yet when it came to her own sister, she was stumbling with what to say and how to phrase it. Despite her unrehearsed conversation, Elsa knew there was no use in putting off this meeting any longer. "Okay… just, let Anna do the talking first. Then counter it." She decided, hoping that plan would work. "Skadi help me." Elsa prayed before finally revealing herself. Anna was making her way to the staircase, at least trying to without slipping over due to the ice.
"Anna…" Elsa called out. Her soft voice caught the attention of the darker haired one, making her look up from the stairs. When the Princess saw her sister, she was stunned by her beauty. The light that came from the roof bounced on her outfit, which were decorated with flakes to make them look like sparkles.
"Woah…" Anna breathed, seeing the Queen herself in all her glory. "Elsa… you look… different." It was what she thought of at the top of her head. Soon it followed with more words. "But not in a bad way, it's a good difference! I'm so used to seeing you in big poofy dresses that your new outfit caught me off guard. But I like it! It looks more… you! More Elsa! I doubt I could pull off something like that, even though we have a similar figure. Though I'd argue you're more slender than me, which explains why you were always better at ballet… then again, maybe I was just clumsy, still am to a certain-" As she talked, her foot missed a step which caused her to fall on her butt near the stairs. Elsa moved forward, worriedly as she noticed her sister had slipped. Thankfully, it wasn't serious as Anna merely smiled sheepishly. "Case… and point."
Seeing her sister struggle to keep up with the ice sparked a certain emotion in Elsa. She was reminded of the younger sister who would get into trouble but always have her back when she needed it. It was that kind of reminder that made the Snow Queen giggle. When Anna heard it, she whipped her head up to notice the merriment on Elsa's face. "You haven't changed a bit… even after all these years." Elsa mused.
"You make it sound like we've been apart for more than just a few days." Anna remarked.
Elsa slowly descended the stairs, meeting up with her sister. "It may as well feel like it." It sounded more sadder than she initially wanted, yet it more or less was the truth. Once she was on ground level, Elsa was standing above Anna. The older of the two, with hesitation, reached out her hand for the other to take it.
Anna found that smile on her face once again, reaching up to grab hold of Elsa's with her mitten. Lifting her up on her feet, Elsa stayed close to Anna, for the first time in a while. "Thanks…" Anna told her. "I'm surprised you aren't freezing." She pondered while looking at Elsa's outfit.
Elsa chuckled at Anna's observation. "I've never been affected by the cold. Guess it's a perk when you are the embodiment of ice and snow…"
Anna chuckled with her sister, as they stood together in the foyer for a while. Neither of them knew what to say so there was an awkward silence between the two. Their eyes darted around the room, lips being bitten by their teeth as it was hard for them to think of what to say or do. After many agonizing seconds that felt like an eternity, the Princess of Arendelle finally spoke. "Elsa… I'm really sorry."
The older of the siblings turned to face the other, seeing the look of guilt on her features. "Anna…" Elsa tried to speak up, but was cut off by her sister.
"I may not have the whole picture of what happened, and not all of my memories came back. I mean, it has been over a decade since what happened, so even if I do recall what truly happened, all the details may not be fully clear. But I do know for a fact that you never meant to hit me with your magic! And I don't care if you did. It wasn't the fact that you hurt me that made me upset, it was the fact you had to keep your secret hidden. I know you were just doing it to protect me, but I wasn't the one being attacked at the time. You are the one that was being targeted by those creeps! You're my sister, I'm always going to worry about you. Just because you have magic, doesn't mean you are unstoppable! But even so, I shouldn't have forced your confession during your coronation. Even though I was owed some answers, the timing was not ideal… and I should have been patient. I didn't want you to feel like you were being attacked or shunned. I know the people may not understand, but once they know you mean no harm, they will see there is nothing to be scared of. And I promise I'll be better at listening to you, and I want to help you to control your powers as well. What I'm trying to say is… you're not alone."
Despite Anna's jumbled mess of a speech, Elsa knew she meant well and that she still loved her sister. It was clear Anna's goal in coming up to the Mountain was to try and make peace with her sibling. It warmed her heart knowing Anna still cared, despite the lies she had been fed for so long. "I accept your apology," Elsa mused. When she heard that, Anna's face lit up. "And… I'm sorry too." The Snow Queen began to speak. "I should have been honest with you from the very start. But believe me when I say we never intended to keep this secret from you forever. Opal said that the memory loss was only temporary, so we thought it would come back eventually. Even father admitted he would be willing to explain everything to you if your memory never came back."
Anna listened to her sister, hearing her side and while she tried to understand, she still had many questions. "Why didn't you tell me sooner? Especially when Mor and Far were alive?"
Elsa sighed, as she expected that kind of response. "I didn't… I was trying to be better…"
"Better?" Anna repeated.
Elsa rubbed her hands together, taking in a breath as she elaborated. "I was worried I would hurt someone with my magic again. So I dedicated myself to try and train my powers, to use it as a means of protection. I thought if I did that, it would overcome my fears about the past. But… over the years, I grew scared of my abilities. They grew faster than I did, to the point I feared they would overtake me. And it was because of it… our parents died just trying to find a way to help me." Now Elsa was the one overcome with guilt, as she was reminded of what the previous royals of Arendelle had gone through. If she had only managed to contain and use her powers on her own… they might still be alive today. The blue pupils of Elsa gazed at the ground, being weighed by the consequences of her past. "After they died… I knew that my magic could never be used for any kind of good. It's what separated our family and destroyed it. So… I kept the gloves on and… kept them contained. I decided after the funeral that I would never allow this curse to hold me back from the ones I love. Even if that meant I would be in denial, it was better than accepting the ugly truths."
When Elsa managed to look back up at her sister, she noticed the soft expression of Anna. The Princess stared at her with sympathy and concern, hearing her story only increased those emotions. "I'm so sorry you had to go through all of that alone…But you don't have to do that anymore."
"...I wanted to tell you… but by that point, I had already buried it all. I didn't think… I didn't want to burden you because I believed you suffered enough."
"Elsa, we're sisters." Anna interjected. "Your pain is my pain! I don't want you to protect me, I want to help you. You aren't alone, Elsa. You still have me." She told her. Elsa found herself smiling, as such a statement did make her feel more safe. "Besides, that's all in the past!" Anna declared.
"...It is?" Elsa asked.
Anna turned back to her, that smile still on her face as the music began to play around. It started off as a soft piano melody, before increasing in tempo that made it more upbeat. Anna reached over, holding onto Elsa's hand as she looked her in the eyes. "I came all this way to give us a fresh start. And now you're all like 'wow'!" Anna gestured to Elsa's form, then placed her hands to her chest. "You're all like warming my heart."
Elsa mused at Anna's reaction, grateful she was being open minded and the singing wasn't a bad bonding idea either. "Well this is who I am, welcome to the real me. You have no idea how great it feels to be free." She spun on her toes, snowflakes gathered around her before she tossed them into the air as they flew down gently.
Anna caught a few of them in her mittens, but managed to keep her focus on her sister. "We've been falling out for way too long. So let's forget who's right."
"And forget who's wrong." Elsa added.
"Okay!" Both of them agreed in unison, as it felt they were finally getting along once again.
Elsa took Anna by the shoulder, guiding her around to show her the rest of the palace. "Why don't you stay, there's room for family in my court." She suggested, gesturing to the large castle that was empty of any other human life.
"Cause life's too short!" The two sang together.
"To always feel shut out and unloved by the sister I long to know." Anna stated while staring at Elsa in a longing way.
"Life's too short!" The two agreed.
"To never let you see who I am," Elsa admitted, as she was just as saddened by the fact. Holding out her hands, she summoned her magic to create a statue of the two sisters hugging each other when they were both young. A time when they had not yet been exposed to the trauma that would haunt them. "The true queen of the ice and snow!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Anna chimed in as Elsa and her approached the statues, seeing their past lives. Those happy and carefree moments where it didn't matter what they did or didn't have, as long as they had each other. That was enough for either of them
"I never understood, but now I do." They turned towards each other, agreeing on a statement as they sang it together. "Life's too short to miss out on a sister like you." This conversation they were having was going better than either of them had expected. Despite their nervousness and doubts, both sisters seemed to finally be on the same page about wanting to rebuild their relationship and make things right.
Anna took this as a sign for her to ask the big question she wanted to tell Elsa this whole time. "So you'll come back, then?"
Elsa raised a brow in confusion at the question. "Back?" She repeated.
"To thaw the fjord." Anna explained. "It's frozen over, no one can get in or out of Arendelle right now."
Hearing that made Elsa alert. "Oh…" She did remember leaving ice when she used the water to cross from her Kingdom towards the Mountains. Admittedly, she did feel bad upon hearing the damage she did. While it was unintentional, she could only imagine how much of a headache it must be for the others down below.
"Sooo?" Anna leaned closer, practically begging her sister at this point.
Despite how serious the situation sounded, Elsa pulled away from her sister. She had visions of the townspeople and the visitors staring, judging her. She could already imagine them calling her names such as "witch" and "monster". "N-No! I can't go back there!" Elsa declared more harshly than she wanted it to sound.
"Why not?" Anna questioned, noticing Elsa's hesitation. Surely she wouldn't want her people to suffer, so there had to be a reason for why she wouldn't want to go back to Arendelle. "If it's the hooded shadows…" She tried to speak, but that was only one of Elsa's worries at this point.
Turning on her heels to face Anna, Elsa sang out her frustrations. "I'll have to shove on the gloves, then my story ends!" She strolled away from Anna, trying to calm her mind from the guilt.
"So what?" Anna questioned, not seeing what the problem was. Didn't Elsa say she was fine with sealing away her powers? Why wouldn't she want to do that again? "It's just like it was, except we'll be friends again."
Elsa turned back to Anna, her face showed how hurt she was when her sister suggested such a thing. "So that's been your plan? To force me back in a cage?!"
Anna could hear how offended Elsa was, so she tried to minimize the situation. "Whoa, whoa! Don't get upset, let's get back on the same page!"
Unfortunately, Elsa was having none of it as she put on a fake smile to hide her hurt, before grabbing Anna's shoulders and pushing her towards the doors. "Gee, thanks for coming up to see the place. And showing off your mastery of tact and grace." Elsa mocked, trying to force Anna away but the Princess tried to stand her ground on the ice. By the time they reached the entrance, Elsa jumped away from Anna as she gestured towards the doors that lead her sister into her Castle. "Okay! Run down the hill and spill my secrets, make a full report!" Again, Elsa mocked as she reached for the handle. "Bye-Bye!"
"Wait!" Anna rushed over to her sister's side.
"Cause life's too short!"
"There it is!" Anna cut Elsa off as she was becoming upset like her sister, with this escalating argument. "The door you'd love to slam in my face! You did well there, for a spell, but now you're back in the same place." She crossed her arms over her chest, being just as judgemental as Elsa was at this moment. Elsa waved her hand at Anna, trying to ignore her as she walked away from her sister. Anna, however, had more to say. "Kick me out if you want, but I'm the only one who. Is not one hundred percent convinced this story's about you!"
That accusation triggered Elsa, making her face her sister as she shouted back in her face. "You can think whatever you want 'cause I don't care! You're the one who doesn't have magic!"
"That is so unfair!" Anna disagreed.
"I swear I'm through with taking your unshaking sisterly support!" The two sang together, walking opposite of each other with their arms high above their heads. They turned their backs on each other as they kept spewing words they did not mean. "HAH! Life's too short!"
Anna looked back over her shoulder, seeing the back of Elsa as she knew this was getting out of hand, but there was still so much at stake that she had to get her sister to see the bigger picture. "To let you treat the people down there just as coldly as you always treated me."
Elsa covered her ears, singing to herself to try and shut out the guilt Anna was trying to drown her in. "La La lalala laaaa!"
When Anna noticed Elsa wasn't trying to listen, she was the one who turned her back on the Snow Queen. "Life's too short!" They both agreed.
Elsa looked over at the Princess, speaking to her back. "To listen to a reckless fool who only ever sees the things she wants to see!"
That hurt Anna, making her waver for a moment before she spun to finally face Elsa. "You don't know…"
"You have no idea…" Elsa argued.
"What I've been through! Because of you!" They pointed directly at each other, practically putting the blame on their sibling. "Life's too short to waste another minute!" They sang together, still upset as they paced forward. "Life's too short to even have you in it!" The tension between the sisters rose, indicating the negativity that was overtaking the sisters just as they were finally getting somewhere. By the time they were face to face, they could only come up with one conclusion. "Life's too short!"
Outside of the Castle, the men of the group were waiting at the top of the staircase. They had been shut out as the sisters were having a heart to heart. They were unable to hear or see what was happening, but they could only hope it was going well. Hans and Olaf were the ones practicing patiences, but the Ice Harvester was tapping his foot as his body refused to sit still.
"What's taking them so long?" Kristoff looked over at the door, trying to resist the urge to march into it.
"They've only been in there for five minutes…" Hans told the blonde.
Kristoff scoffed as he turned his back on the Prince. "How long does it take for two sisters to talk about their feelings!?"
Olaf interjected. "Is this a trick question, cause I don't know the answer."
"Look, this is a personal matter and we don't know the full story. They must have a lot they need to get off of their chests." The Prince tried to reassure.
"But I want to go inside! Come on, you two aren't curious about the inside of this ice castle?!" The buffer man gestured to the structure.
"I'm made of ice, why aren't you as invested in me?" Olaf questioned as he gestured to his body.
Kristoff looked at the Snow Troll. "Well… I mean… you're… you know…" Olaf tilted his head, confused as he stared at the Ice Harvester. Kristoff eventually turned away, letting his desires go for now.
Hans was a bit amused that Kristoff had been bested, though he was somewhat curious about the non-human of the group. "You know… I am curious about you, Olaf." the Prince admitted, as he turned his attention towards the creature. "How does your body function?"
"Function?" Olaf repeated the word, not understanding the meaning.
"I think he's referring to how you move around and you having a voice." Kirtsoff answered.
"As well as if you can perform other human-like actions to indicate your living statues… such as, can you eat?"
"Eat? Like… take in food?" Olaf questioned, to which the other two nodded. "Huh… I think so. Never tried it before. Is it fun?" He asked.
"It's more so a means of survival," Kristoff explained. "But eating your favorite foods is rewarding."
"Ooh! I hope I get to eat some food!" Olaf jumped.
Hans chuckled. "Well, I doubt there is any food up here that you can eat."
"Unless you want to go hunt and gather it on your own." Kristoff added. "Personally, I don't mind hunting and fishing in the rivers. Learned how to cook from what was given to me in the wild once I started my own ice gathering."
"So you're some kind of wilderness expert?" Hans questioned Kristoff.
"You have to be if you plan on living out here. Unlike you royals, being an Ice Harvester has its challenges." He boasted.
Hans rolled his eyes as he humored Kristoff, but didn't say anything else. Olaf, however, was curious. "What kind of challenges?"
"What kind?" Kristoff repeated as he looked at the Snow Troll. The Ice Harvester noticed how excited he was, so he answered. "Well, we Ice Harvesters have to have a good sense of direction. We need to be able to know where to go and recognize landmarks, especially with how many paths and routes there are. We also have to be strong enough to carry huge loads of ice, but also have a good sense of balance so we don't slip on the ice itself. We rely on each other but know how and when to pull our own weight. We also have to make sure to be vigilant of the environment."
"Vigilant?" Hans questioned.
"When you live up on a mountain covered in snow, there are many things to look out for. Dangerous animals, ominous patterns in the weather, and most importantly: avalanches."
Olaf gasped."Avalanche?"
"Oh yes, they are quite common up here. Many things can cause avalanches. From strong winds, rains and snows, to warming temperatures and earthquakes. Some can even be triggered by skiers, hikers and the vibrations from machinery or construction. Hence why there aren't too many buildings or homes in these parts."
Hans was half listening to Kristoff, while he gazed back at the door. It was taking quite a while for the sisters to have come back out. He tried to let them be, but he couldn't help but be curious about what they were talking about. Could Anna really convince Elsa to come back to Arendelle? And if so, what would happen if they succeed? Rudi and Runo would no doubt be upset, and try a different method to take over the throne. He shuddered when a strong wind flew past him. Why was it suddenly colder? He looked around the mountain, noticing that it was quiet.
Kristoff also shivered, rubbing his arms as his lips quivered. "Brrr…"
"It really got colder all of a sudden…" Hans noted.
Olaf blinked. "Really? I can't feel anything."
"Probably because you're made of ice and snow…" Hans pointed out.
"Huh… guess that makes sense." Olaf shrugged.
"Say, Kristoff…" Hans looked over at the Ice Harvester. "What are the signs of an approaching avalanche?" He asked, trying to distract himself so they wouldn't be overcome by the winds.
"Well… the ground would feel hollow on our feets." Kristoff began to list off. "There would be cracks forming in the snow around us. We would also hear a "whumping" sound when walking, which indicates that the snow is settling and a slab might release. As well as heavy snowfall and rain in the past… twenty four… hours…" Kristoff began to trail off, the gears in his brain turned while his head whipped around.
Hans and Olaf noticed his expression, which confused them at first. The Prince's perplexity turned into worry, as the Ice Harvester was becoming fearful. He tried to understand why Kristoff was worried, because there weren't any signs of an avalanche, right? But when he thought back on the causes of such a natural phenomenon, he was reminded of the snow storm they suffered through last night. It was vicious, with snow pelting down and the winds howling in pain. But surely that wouldn't be enough to cause a snow slide, right?
Hans thought so until his ears picked up a strange noise above them. All of them turned to the tip of the mountain, noticing some white clouds slowly rolling down the side. They were small at first, but they were growing in size the further down they went. The ears of the group began to pick up a strange noise that they could only describe as a "whump."
Kristoff, with his snow expertise, followed his instincts and rushed towards the doors. He forced them open and headed inside with no second thought. Hans watched him, before he ran after him, with Olaf following close behind.
The Snow Queen and Arendelle Princess were still in the grand entrance, both of them no longer seeing eye to eye on this matter. Elsa didn't want to go back to Arendelle while Anna wanted her sister to return. And the strawberry blond looked adamant on not leaving until she got what she came here for. Neither of the sisters managed to talk after their falling out song, and while they both had so much regret, they didn't plan on backing down. The only thing that broke their silence was the sound of the doors slamming open. Both royals turned to see Kristoff approaching, looking panicked as he went towards them.
"Kristoff?" Anna was surprised to see the Ice Harvester here.
"Kristoff?" Elsa questioned, realizing Anna wasn't alone in her journey. Her expression became even more baffled when she saw Prince Hans and Olaf enter as well.
"We have to leave, now!" Kristoff demanded.
"What?" Anna seemed just as annoyed as Elsa, as she didn't believe the Ice Harvester at first. "We can't leave. Elsa and I-"
"Will become buried in snow!" Kristoff cut her off. "The mountain is having an avalanche, we need to find shelter!"
"Avalanche?" Elsa repeated. "That can't be. I would have-" She tried to be dismissive, thinking at first this person was trying to trick her. Only when the ground of the Castle began to rumble, did the Snow Queen and the others feel slightly nervous. Anna and Elsa looked at each other, then over at Kristoff who was still fearful. Elsa and Anna rushed over to the doors, opened it and looked over to see snow piling down from the mountain top, slowly but steadily making its way down to the Castle. Elsa's eyes went wide, as Anna gasped to see the snow rushing towards them.
"Elsa, please!" Anna grabbed her sister's hand, pulling her close. "We have to go now!" She didn't care about what Elsa had said to her, all she cared about was getting her out of the palace and to spare her from being buried.
"Even if we go now, we won't be able to outrun it." Hans pointed out.
"I say we have less than a minute." Kristoff speculated.
Anna turned to the two, still squeezing Elsa's hand for reassurance. "What can we do?! There's no guarantee that the Castle will keep us safe."
Elsa watched in horror as the mountain had turned on them. She couldn't believe an avalanche was approaching them and she didn't even realize it! She was supposed to control ice and snow, yet she wasn't alerted to the oncoming onslaught from the mountain. The others were correct in the regard that there would be little to no time for them to escape the slopes. While her structure was strong, she couldn't be certain it would hold out for long. As fearful as Elsa was at the moment, she knew sitting around would accomplish nothing except for their certain death. Feeling her sister holding her hand, it made the Snow Queen realize how desperate Anna was in protecting Elsa. Even after their fight just now, Anna's kindness towards her older sibling still shone. When Elsa looked over to her younger sister, all she could think about was trying to save her. That was when Elsa knew… she had to act in order to ensure the safety of her family.
Squeezing her hand back, Elsa dragged Anna back into the palace. The Princess was taken aback by the action, even calling out to her sister, but she ignored it. She pulled Anna up the stairs, towards the bedroom that Elsa had made for herself with little decoration aside from a bed, chandelier and balcony. Hans, Kristoff, Sven and Olaf followed behind as best they could. Once everyone was at the top, Elsa marched over to the balcony doors and pushed them open, where she could see the rushing snow approaching them. "Elsa?!" Anna called to her sister yet again.
Hans approached the Princess's side, noticing how rigid Elsa was standing. "What is she doing?" He questioned.
Elsa could hear their concerns, but knew there was no time to fully explain. "Everyone, stay together and whatever you do, stay behind me!" She ordered. Her sudden loudness in her voice startled everyone. Anna knew her sister wasn't usually this demanding, but this must have meant the severity of the situation.
"What does she hope to accomplish?" Kristoff questioned, as he thought this was only going to get them killed.
Anna, looking over at her sister, had a feeling that she was going to do something important as a means of protection. She may not know what, but she had to trust her sister. "Let her do it," Anna told the Ice Harvester. "I believe in her." She spoke loud enough for Elsa to hear.
Knowing her sister had faith in her, it made Elsa feel more pressured, yet she was motivated at the same time. Her fingers gripped into her palms a few times, trying to psyche herself up for what she had planned. Despite how terrified she was, she knew it was up to her. Taking in a deep breath, she silently prayed that this would go well. She knew she had screwed up many times in the past, so she begged to have just this moment for her to make it right.
Elsa stood her ground, as she held her palms towards the rushing slopes. When the snow was upon them, she used her strength. The four watched from behind, witnessing the white powder being diverted away from them. Elsa parted the snow, using her own beams of ice to ensure none of it would come into her palace. The Snow Queen tried to stay strong, unleashing all of her magic to protect the ones she loved. At first, she believed she was doing well. Despite the force of the avalanche, Elsa was keeping the snow from invading her castle. The structure was also standing its ground, which meant it had a thicker construct than she thought. Hopefully, it would be enough to keep them safe until it was over.
The snow kept falling, unfortunately. What seemed like minutes felt like an eternity, as the slopes continued to keep pounding down the doors. Her body wavered as she felt it was becoming difficult for her to continue standing. Her feet began to slide across the ice, inch by inch at first. Her arms shook as she was losing focus, the muscles in her hands straining from being held. The pathway in the slopes was decreasing, coming back together as chunks began to pile through the balcony. Elsa feared she was losing, panting in desperation as the idea of failure were rising in her yet again. Her feet continued to slide, losing their grip on the ground as she was ready to fall. Her body would have fallen onto the ice, had it not been for a pair of arms propping her up. Wide, blue eyes turned to see the younger of the two sisters holding Elsa's back, keeping a tight grip on her shoulders as she lifted up her sister.
"A-Anna…" Elsa whispered, stunned to see her sibling pushing her up and having her back.
"You got this, Elsa… I believe in you!" Anna cried out, doing her best to lift up her sister physically and emotionally. Those words alone sparked something in the Queen. Hearing her sister's praise… it increased the perseverance within her core. The snow continued to pile through the balcony, rushing towards the group with no sign of mercy. Kirstoff, Hans, Sven and Olaf hugged each other, bracing themselves for the impact. Anna still clung to her sister, despite their disagreements, she was not going to abandon her! Even if this was to be their last time alive, she wanted to go down knowing she still cared for Elsa. They all closed their eyes, waiting for their fates. The sounds of heavy snow could still be heard, but none of the group felt themselves being exposed to the freezing powder. Anna was the first to open her eyes, noticing they were surrounded by the sleet that had been parted enough so they wouldn't get hit. The woman turned her attention to her sister, who held out her hands and continued to summon her magic just to keep the hail at bay.
Anna was stunned, seeing her sister power through to protect them all. The Princess's wonder turned into admiration towards Elsa. She knew deep down that this was the Queen who would put her people first, and do all she could to protect them. Anna always believed that Elsa would have never been happy to have run away from Arendelle and leave behind everything she cared about unless she feared that it was the right decision. Anna still was stubborn to want her sister to return, hoping there could be a way to settle this situation. The Princess wondered if she could try and convince the people of the Kingdom to understand that Elsa's powers aren't evil. And if Elsa could just prove that by thawing out the fjord…
Crackling sounds caught the attention of the Princess, making her look up to the source. On the ceiling, a chandelier of ice crystals was attached to the structure. Despite its size, it appeared stable enough but the howling winds were causing it to crack from the pressure. The icicle connecting it to the ceiling began to loosen, ready to fall right on top of Elsa. When it had broken off, Anna didn't think twice about what was important. "Elsa, look out!" The Princess shoved her sister, pushing her along with herself out of harm's way. What seemed like a thoughtful gesture, would turn out to be a terrible mistake for both the sisters.
When Anna shoved herself with Elsa, it caused the Snow Queen to lose concentration for a slip second. As if that wasn't bad enough, Elsa's body rotated when Anna and her went flying. She didn't have enough time to cease her magic, making beams of snow and ice circle around the room. Some of that magic, landing right on Anna's chest. The strawberry blonde winced from the sudden coldness in her body, but her focus was still on Elsa, who stared at her sister with terrified eyes. The sisters were the last thing they saw, before the snowfall finally filled the room. The white powder covered the ins and outs of the castle, as well as the group who had been buried underneath the heavy flakes.