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lukin08 · 6 months ago

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Up In The Air Chapter 6

Kristanna Modern AU

Rated T

WC 2815

Summary: Tired of her nomad lifestyle, traveling nurse Anna Arendelle on a whim picks Pensacola Florida as her new town to try find a sense of home. Meanwhile, Navy Pilot Kristoff Bjorgman has accepted a dream position at the Naval station in the same town. After a chance encounter goes south, the two of them find their lives entwined, with neither of them all that happy about it!

Also Available on AO3

Previous Chapter

“Oh, it’s you.”

Anna rolled her eyes at the sound of Kristoff’s voice as he entered the elevator. She looked down ruefully at her cup of coffee she just had to get from the basement cafeteria and now she was stuck with him. Glancing over once the doors closed, she saw how Kristoff was now standing there stoically, not a stitch out of place with his eyes fixed straight ahead at the door.

She glared at him. “Didn’t know that was a proper address in the military. Seems a little disrespectful if you ask me.”

“I didn’t ask,” Kristoff responded unemotionally. “And where I’m from Nurse Arendelle, respect is earned.”

Anna let out a sharp laugh. “That is so rich coming from you.”

Kristoff turned then tilted his head to look at Anna, his eyes narrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means I don’t I have any respect to earn from a liar.” Anna copied what Kristoff had done, turning to face the door and refusing to look at him.

“…what?”

The elevator stopped and opened. Anna lifted her head up as she took a step out. She almost didn’t believe she had the nerve to say that to him. It was out of her mouth before she even processed what she was saying. As soon as she was out, she took off to avoid any additional conversation with Kristoff.

“Hey.”

Anna picked up the pace, hoping Kristoff would take the hint. He was going to drive her insane working on this committee with her. She had already quit three times. At least Anna did in front of Sue and Camilla and each time they pushed her out of the maternity ward with Sue threatening to march her up to her meeting and stand on guard outside the room herself if it ensured Anna couldn’t leave.

It was just that he was so infuriating; sitting there at the meetings quietly until she spoke. It felt like every time Anna had an idea, Kristoff was there to challenge her or offer a counter idea. Anna called it his internal switch turning on to annoy her. It didn’t help that the rest of the committee didn’t seem to notice. They were all smitten with the fly boy. It certainly wasn’t for his charm, but all because he could fly a big hunk of metal. Why would anyone care about that?

The only silver lining was Anna loved what the committee was doing. The hospital had a large children’s wing that was being expanded over the next few years. With the added space, the group Anna was assigned to was exploring new ideas to lift the spirits of the children who were there and help with some planning of rooms and a common area in the extension. Unfortunately, Kristoff was part of that group as well as the hospital sponsorship team at the NAS base. No matter where she turned, Anna couldn’t get away from him.

“Hey,” Kristoff said again, catching up to Anna. She was walking as fast down the hall as she could without trying to attract any attention and he didn’t even seem to be putting any effort into his gate.

She glowered up at him suspiciously. “What do you want Captain America?”

“Captain what? …Oh, would you stop?” Now it was Kristoff’s turn to roll his eyes. “Why did you call me a liar?”

“Because you are.”

“No, I’m serious. Why do you think that?” Kristoff’s tone was surprisingly serious.

“As if you don’t know.” Anna shook her head. “I’m from the area. It’s my uncle’s bar,” she said with a mocking tone. “I swear you Navy jerks are all the same.”

“That’s-“

“And while we’re at it,” Anna cut him off. She stopped in her tracks, turning to face Kristoff directly and pointing her finger at him. “Stop challenging me every chance you get in the meetings. It’s getting old.”

Kristoff stopped and met her stance, crossing his arms with a smug look on his face. “You do the same thing.”

“Do not!”

“Whatever you say firecracker.”

“Don’t call me that.”

He rolled his eyes again. “Fine, nurse Arendelle.” His voice was dripping with condensation.

“Ugh, don’t call me that either. You know I hate that.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Would you stop!”

Kristoff let out a loud sigh. “Anyway, are you done?’

“Excuse me?”

Kristoff started walking again towards the conference room. Anna felt compelled to keep up with him. He glanced down at her. “Are you done or do you have any more to say? If you’re going to insult me, you might as well get it all out.”

“I wasn’t insulting you. I was describing you.”

Kristoff reacted with a slight upturn in his lips as he reached for the door and held it open for Anna. Then he looked directly at her as she walked by and she found herself unable to look away. He leaned forward and quietly spoke so only she could hear him. “Call me what you want, I don’t care. But I didn’t lie to you.”

He walked away and sat at the opposite side of the conference table, not saying another word to her the entire meeting.

**********

Several weeks went by without any more direct conversations with Kristoff. Anna tried not to think too much about what Kristoff had said, but she’d only be lying to herself if she didn’t admit she wasn’t at least a little curious about what he meant when he said he didn’t lie to her. Not that Anna was going to give him the satisfaction of asking. She could imagine the satisfied look on his face if she asked him to clarify what he said. She hoped it was eating at Kristoff that she hadn’t brought it up. That thought alone was enough to keep her from asking.

They eventually fell back into their back and forth at the meetings, throwing barbs whenever the chance arose. It was as if Anna couldn’t help herself. Although she was always aware to cut anything off before it got too heated. Kristoff seemed to have the same understanding, the only comment ever coming from the group was the head of the committee calling it a lively discussion.

She couldn’t fault him for much else. All through the spring and into the summer, Kristoff was nothing but professional with everything. Annoyingly so. Although Anna did suspect he once messed with an appointment time he scheduled with their sub group making her suspiciously 30 minutes later to the meeting than the rest of the team. She swore she saw a hint of a smirk when he thanked her for deciding to join the group as she walked in.

In July, Anna turned down an invitation to sit in the VIP area for the Blue Angels air show at Pensacola Beach. The thought of sitting there with everyone oohing and awing over Kristoff almost turned her stomach. “Suit yourself,” was all he said when she turned down the ticket and moved on to the next committee person.

She didn’t realize how big of a deal it was until the morning of the show. She couldn’t get anywhere around. It felt like the entire city was shut down. Anna saw videos of people at the beach, faces dotting every square inch of sand all looking like they were having an amazing time at what was described as the biggest party of the year. She realized she could have been right down there in the middle of all the fun. In the end, Anna broke down and watched some of the higher jet formations that were visible from her backyard. She wondered which one Kristoff was in and how much of a thrill it must be to be in the jets.

**********

Anna got to the outdoor tent fifteen minutes late, not expecting the crowds she’d have to navigate around. The fall afternoon sun felt good on her face after spending the entire day in the hospital.

“Sorry I’m late!” Anna exclaimed as she rushed inside the booth. “I didn’t realize it would be so packed!”

“Not a problem,” her co-worker said, giving her an understanding smile. “The crowds here today are crazy.”

It was amazing how many people the Blue Angels brought in. People came from other states to see the Homecoming show. It was the last show of the season and the Naval base opened its doors for two days of shows followed by concerts and food the evening of the second night. As part of their community outreach, the hospital had an outdoor booth along with other local vendors.

They went through everything at the booth including all the handouts and giveaways as Anna took over her time to staff the tent. She was looking forward to getting to talk to people about the hospital and its resources for the community.

An hour later, Kristoff sauntered up to the tent.

“Everything going OK?" he asked as he walked up.

“All great,” Anna responded flatly. “A little warning on the crowds would have been nice. I was fifteen minutes late!”

“I know,” Kristoff said with a grin. “I came over earlier and saw you weren’t here. I tried to tell you at our last meeting. But if I remember correctly, you cut me off and said you didn’t need anything from me. How’d that work out for you?”

All Anna could see was her reflection from the aviators Kristoff was wearing. She had a sudden urge to knock them off his smug face so she could look him square in the eyes and tell him how she really felt about him. Instead, she looked down at the table. “I may not have completely thought that one out.”

As if on cue, Kristoff pulled the aviators off. Anna glanced up and was instantly taken back to the bar almost a year before, lost in those eyes that for a time had carried so much kindness that night. She had to take a moment to compose herself and remind herself how much of a pain in the ass he’d been over the year. Anna started to give him the rundown of all the traffic they had and how the tent was working great. Kristoff nodded along then offered to bring her some food, which she declined.

“One more thing,” Kristoff said before he went to leave. “When you go home tonight, take the exit in the back right corner of the parking lot. No one uses it and it will get you out to the main road with no waiting. You’ll avoid all the traffic.”

Anna gave Kristoff a suspicious smile. “Why Captain America, if I didn’t know better, I’d say you were actually being nice to me.”

Kristoff slowly lifted his aviators, putting them back on and setting his face. “Don’t worry. I was just acting.”

“Like a child?” Anna put her hands on her hips narrowing her eyes at Kristoff.

That mischievous grin was back. Kristoff took a step back. “Bye firecracker. Don’t get into too much trouble tonight. Don’t want you to lose your key fob again.”

“Definitely like a child,” Anna said under her breath as she watched Kristoff walk away.

Anna was busy the rest of the afternoon and into the evening. It was getting time to wrap up and Anna could not wait to walk around for a bit. She had her sights set on some of the food trucks and she was definitely leaving with one of those giant bags of kettle corn that were bigger than her.

“Um, excuse me?”

Anna looked up and saw a brunette woman, near her age standing with a hospital pamphlet in her hand. She was smiling but looked somewhat apprehensive.

“Yes, is there something I could assist you with?” Anna smiled over at the women.

“Yes, I hope? My husband and I transferred here recently, and I was looking for a doctor. I saw the booth and thought maybe you could help.” She went on to describe to Anna what she was looking for.

“Say no more,” Anna responded. “I don’t have anything here on the practice, but Dr. Intilli is the best in the area.” Anna wrote down the information and handed it over to the woman.

“You really recommend this doctor?”

Anna could sense the woman’s nervousness. “Absolutely. I can vouch for him personally. I work there part time. Everyone at the practice is amazing.”

The woman smiled and Anna could see the relief on her face. “Thank you. I don’t know a lot of people yet and I wasn’t comfortable asking anyone and… well, just thank you.”

“Of course! I’m glad I could help.”

“Ok, then. Maybe I’ll see you there.” The woman smiled more confidently and began to walk away. “Thanks again.”

“Any time.”

**********

Kristoff stood at attention, his eyes set forward into a fixed stare at the hanger wall slightly above the group of people around him. It was hard to believe it was already a year since he had gone through this ceremony for the first time. The homecoming show marked the team’s last show of the year and the official transition over to the new team for the next year’s season.

His thoughts drifted back to the previous year and the time leading up to the last show. Kristoff had moved down to Pensacola months before the Homecoming show. The whole time was a whirlwind, learning as much as he could about the team and sticking to the pilot he was taking over for like glue. But he wasn’t officially a team member until the evening after the show. That night was the first time he wore the official Blue Angels flight suit as the solo pilot for jet number 6.

They were here again in a private ceremony only for the crew to transition the team. Once the team for the new year was finalized, Boss Kesselring had informed Kristoff he would be taking over as the lead solo, moving to jet 5. It was a position that garnered him two more years with the Blue Angels instead of one and an honor he never expected. Flying as part of the solos instead of the four other planes that flew in the tight formations was already a dream. Getting to lead the solos for the next two years was beyond anything he could have imagined.

It was bittersweet seeing the crew that was leaving now in their tan uniforms as they were recognized for the last time. Then he watched as other crew members, from maintenance to medical to announcers were called and stepped into their roles for the next year. When it was the jet’s turn, Kristoff walked up to Boss Kesselring when called, instep with the other returning pilots. They then turned to accept the incoming pilots, donned in the blue flight suits for the first time.

It was cheers and hugs after that, and the new team took their first picture together in front of one of the jets in the hanger.

The group was hanging out and starting to disperse when Kristoff heard a familiar voice.

“Suits looking good, right?” Sven was walking up, pointing at himself with a big grin on his face.

“Don’t get cocky,” Kristoff said, feigning seriousness.

“Just enjoying the moment. You could have given me a heads up about this, you know. I was scared shitless when we got called here tonight.”

“Nope. You get to experience the same level of fear as everyone else.”

They embraced, patting each other on the back. “Congrats man,” Kristoff said. “You ready for all this?”

Sven shook his head still in disbelief. “It still doesn’t feel real. But tonight… this is beyond amazing. The jet has my name on it. My name! How’d they even get that done so quick?”

“You’ll be amazed how quickly things get done around here. Now for the important question. Are you ready to take orders from me for the next two years? The Solos are intense.”

Sven waived his hand. “I’ve been taking orders from you since the Academy. This is nothing.”

They started walking towards the locker room to get changed. Sven swung his arm around Kristoff’s shoulder. “We’re finally getting to fly together! After all these years…” Sven trailed off, taking in a deep breath.

Sven didn’t need to say anything. Kristoff felt all the same emotions. “I know bud. I know.”

It was all Sven needed, a huge smile beaming at Kristoff again. “Let’s get changed and go find Nicki. We’ve got something we want to tell you.”

“Or you could tell me now so we can leave.”

“What’s the fun in that? And did you not hear the WE in that sentence? Come on, she’s over by the bands.”

“Fine,” Kristoff relented. “But it better be good.”

"It's better than good, buddy."

#up in the air #Edin what did you write #kristanna #frozen #anna #kristoff #frozen 2 #Up in the air chapter 6 #sooo much time skipping in the chapter #but it was needed

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stokeme--aclipper · 5 years ago

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Everything I didn’t say

"Kristoff was used to being alone. And he was fine with it. Until she came along and changed everything. But she wasn't for him, she belonged to another. Which was why he was stood on the wrong side of the castle gates, watching her being taken away from him, his chest burning with all the things he didnt say."

Oneshot where Kristoff leaves Anna at the castle gates and she shares her true loves kiss with Hans.

Originally posted on Ao3

Kristoff was used to being alone.

He’d known nothing else as long as he had known loneliness. And whilst he had Sven, even he had to admit that he was talking to himself in a goofy voice. He was just fine with it being the two of them, just as it always had been.

And then she had infiltrated their lives and made everything complicated and wonderful and a little ray of hope began to shine through, convincing him that maybe being alone wasn’t the path for him and maybe, just maybe, she could be the answer to all the questions he had never dared to ask himself.

But she wasn’t for him, she belonged to another. Which was why he was stood on the wrong side of the castle gates, watching her being taken away from him, his chest burning with all the things he didn’t say.

So yes, Kristoff was used to being alone. And he was fine with it. Totally fine.

They’re halfway up the mountain when Sven makes a whiny sound and jumps in front of him.

What is it buddy?” Sven is more aggressive with his sounds now and moves towards him, fury resting in those large eyes. “Hey watch it! What’s wrong with you?”

Sven makes another sound, one he isn’t used to hearing and he already knows what this is about. If he can just ignore it- and him- a little longer, then Anna and Arendelle will be out of his mind, and heart, forever.

“I don’t understand you when you talk like that.”

But Sven isn’t one for backing down and within moments, he has Kristoff in his antlers and is pushing him down towards the mountains.

“Stop it! Put me down!” He’s thrown to the floor, snow covering all parts of him and he feels a warm breath of air coming from Sven’s nose. “No Sven, we’re not going back!” He wipes himself down as Sven makes another non-committal noise. “She’s with her true love!”

It breaks his heart to admit it out loud; he had been avoiding all thoughts of her since leaving her at the gates. He knew it was the right thing to do though; true love was the only thing that was going to save her now and well... that was Hans and not him.

“Come on Sven, it’s time to go home. Anna doesn’t need me anymore.” He says, pushing on without waiting for an answer from his reluctant reindeer.

He’s only vaguely aware of the wind picking up around him.

“I’m fine Sven, really. It doesn’t even matter. It’s been weeks now and I’m over it. I don’t even remember her name so it’s cool.”

It had been 4 weeks since the eternal winter had ended and summer had returned, so Kristoff was right in assuming that everything had worked out for the best and that Anna was happy with her ‘true love’.

He had returned to Arendelle a week ago; ice season was upon them and so he needed to make some contacts, ready for the harvest. Every part of him burned upon his arrival, it was like his body knew she was nearby and so had decided to remind him of every moment they had shared together.

Kristoff had been so determined to forget everything about Anna and their adventure up the North Mountain but he was kidding himself of course; he remembered every damn detail of her.

The way her eyes lit up when he agreed to help her, the way her freckles danced across her cheeks in the morning light, the way she had felt in his arms when he caught her. It was taking every bit of his willpower to not head over to the castle, break down those gates and her door and beg her to return to him. Not that he needed to break down any gates anymore, they were wide open now, allowing anything out and anyone in.

If he was a forceful man, he would storm that castle and find her. If he was a gambling man, he would risk everything and tell her how he felt. But Kristoff Bjorgman was neither a forceful nor a gambling man, so he just had to sit and hope that one day he would find his true love- one that wasn’t already engaged to another.

He should have known he would run into her at some point.

He’d been in Arendelle for 2 months now and so far had managed to avoid any of the royal ceremonies or festivities. He was only intending to stick around another day or so before heading off to start his ice harvest when it was announced the Queen and Princess were coming for a royal tour of the city.

He isn’t sure how long he’s got but he’s determined not to be seen by either one of them, knowing it’ll break him if he even captures a glimpse of her. He’s packing up his bag when the trumpets start and he’s desperate to stop the burning in his chest and where on earth is his rope? Everything is quickening and he can hear the trumpets ringing in his ears; she’s getting closer and closer and closer.

He looks up now and can see the carriage up ahead and if he’s quick enough he can grab Sven and leave but Sven is nowhere to be seen, because why would his loyal companion be nearby when he needs him, and he can feel the sweat breaking out across his forehead.

“Sven? Sven?! Where are you?” Kristoff is crying out now, whispers turning harsher and harsher as the carriage draws ever closer. He looks across the road and there he is! “Sven! Get over here!” He starts to make a move towards him at the same time the carriage stops and all at once his world stops spinning.

Her hair is just as red as it was the first time they met, he notices the blonde streak is gone (damn Hans and his true loves kiss). Her petite frame is swallowed by the large gown and cape she is wearing but she’s still just as perfect as he remembers. He knows he needs to move and hide but it’s like the ice has returned and frozen every part of his body. He forgets how to do anything; breathe, live, speak... everything is Anna, Anna, Anna.

He notices she’s chatting to Sven now and before his brain gets back into gear, Sven is nodding in his direction and she’s turning around and holy hell, she’s beautiful. It takes her a moment to find him in the crowd but then she sees him and her face lights up, just like it did on the mountain. She hasn’t changed, not really. Her face is a little gaunter than he remembers, and there’s a spark or two missing from her eyes, but she’s still Anna and she’s still the girl he has been longing for all this time. She wanders over to the carriage, mutters something he knows he’ll never hear and within seconds, the carriage is gone, the crowd is gone and it’s just the two of them, together.

“Hello Kristoff.”

“Hello... Anna. I mean, Princess Anna.”

They remain silent for minutes, or it could be days, Kristoff isn’t sure. Time is flying past as he stares at her face, drinking in every detail.

“How have you been?” Her voice is angelic, if not a little sad, and he knows she is different but he can’t quite put his finger on it.

“Oh you know, busy! Ice season is nearby so I’m just preparing for that. How’s... how’s life been treating you?” He stumbles on his words, desperate to ask about Hans and desperate to not ask about Hans.

“Oh you know...” It doesn’t escape him that she’s copied his phrase and a small smile tugs at the corner of his lips. “It’s been okay. Bit weird since the whole freezing of the kingdom thing but I think everything is going back to normal now. And you know Elsa and I are actually speaking again which is amazing, it was like we’d never been apart, well it took us a little while to get back to how we were but we’re almost there and it’s wonderful and oh Kristoff, it’s so good to see you!” She is looking at him full force now and all he can think is I miss you, I miss you, I miss you.

“It’s good to see you too, Princess.” He is dying to ask about Hans, dying to find out if she’s happy with him, dying to ask whether she misses their time together but that’s not his place anymore. He is Kristoff, the iceman and she is Anna, Princess of Arendelle.

“Kristoff, you don’t have to call me that. Please, just call me Anna.” Her voice breaks on her name and her eyes begin to fill with tears. “I’ve missed you.”

And there it is; the confirmation that he needs. She has voiced the words he could not bring himself to say and all at once, his heart and head hurt, he forgets how to breathe, think, and speak. She takes a step closer and is completely in his orbit, his axis change to centre her, nothing else exists anymore. It is only her.

She looks up at him, her eyes taking on the size of the moon and he finds himself falling deeper and deeper under her spell. He was a fool to believe he could ever be over her and that he could ever want to be over her. She was his everything, his entire universe, all of the galaxies combined into one fiery red-headed woman.

“I missed you too.” Is all he can manage to say, but it’s enough. For now.

It’s another week until he sees her again but it feels like years.

This time he takes the time to fully appreciate everything about her; her laugh, the way her nose scrunches when he tells a particularly bad joke, the way she always looks so soft when she’s listening to him tell a story.

He’s aware he’s becoming addicted to her and he’s aware that it is only going to end up badly for him but he just doesn’t care anymore. She owns every part of him and he is going to tell her, he is, just as soon as Hans Westergaard disappears. Kristoff hadn’t intended on meeting the man who had stolen Anna away, it had happened by chance.

And by chance, he means it was cleverly orchestrated so he could get a true understanding of why Anna had returned. He had purposefully left something in her purse, something which he couldn’t possibly cope without and so he had to go to the castle and collect it back. And once he was there, well it would have been rude of Anna to turn him away without a tour of the castle and something to eat. He was aware he wasn’t being entirely truthful with her but he needed to meet Hans, he had to see them together, know that she had made the best choice for her. He could see it, Hans was charming and polite and handsome and it’s not difficult to see why you would- and could- fall for a man like that. And yet there is something off about him, something that doesn’t sit well with Kristoff. He doesn’t seem to get Anna the way that you would expect your soul mate to get you. He doesn’t laugh at her silly jokes or understand why she has befriended the local iceman and his reindeer. He isn’t keen on Kristoff as well, something which pleases him greatly.

Anna walks him to the castle gate, just as the sun sets and there is still so much he wants to say and it’s all on the tip of his tongue, when Hans comes dashing out and steals their moment.

“Darling, you forgot this for Kristoff. I would be devastated if he wasn’t around on our special day.” He kisses her then, fully on the mouth, a small gasp escapes her lips and Kristoff can’t bear this. Envy courses through his veins and he isn’t a violent man but he imagines breaking Hans’ nose with a swift punch. Their kiss seems to last a decade and he’s just about to turn around and leave when Hans drops Anna and takes his leave.

“Well, that was nice. What did he bring anyway?”

Anna doesn’t look at him, only the envelope which is now in her hands, and he feels all the air escape his body. It’s a heavy set envelope and he can see the wax seal on the back and he knows exactly what this is and he feels as though he’s going to be sick but this is what she wants and he has to be happy for her.

“I get married next week. Tuesday to be exact. Hans wants to be married before the first snowfall; he wasn’t a particular fan of the last one and so he wants to back in the Southern Isles so we can start sorting out Arendelle’s affairs from there before we return next spring. I’ve heard the Southern Isles is beautiful during the winter time so I’m quite excited to see it. Although I suppose I won’t get to see too much of it seeing as I’ll be busy being married and what not...” She trails off, still not daring to look at Kristoff.

“Next week? You’re leaving next week... but what about Arendelle?” What about me? “Your kingdom needs you!”

She scoffs “Oh please, Arendelle will be fine. In case you’ve forgotten, Elsa is queen not me. And besides we’ll be back here next year, I’ll only be gone for 6 months...” She finally looks at him and his heart breaks all over again.

“6 months? You’ll be gone for 6 months? Right...” Yeah, he can go six months without seeing her face, without hearing her laugh, without the gentle brushes of her fingers against his skin... yeah, he’ll be fine. He focuses back in on her and realises she has been talking this entire time and he hates himself for not being there in the moment. “Sorry, what did you say?”

She gives a sad smile “We’ll be back in 6 months and then I’ll only be here for a month or so and its then back to the Southern Isles I guess. Hans is less keen on staying here now that he knows that Elsa intends to remain as Queen.” She shrugs slightly, her smile now non existent.

“Wait, you’re not going to be here at all? Anna, you can’t leave! You can’t!”

“Kristoff, I have nothing keeping me here. Well apart from Elsa, obviously, but she’s queen now and so she’s busy. And I’ll be able to keep in touch with her via letters and royal meetings so it’s pretty much going to be how it always was except this time, I know she’s happy. And she knows I’m... happy.” Her voice cracks on the last word, and he can see the tears slowly forming in the corner of her eyes. “Its better this way. Anyway, this is an invitation to the wedding; it’s for you and Sven, so if you can come that’ll be amazing, but I completely understand if you can’t. Or don’t want too.”

She doesn’t give him an opportunity to reply, just takes another step closer and goes on her tip-toes so she can press a kiss to his cheek. Her lips burn his skin and he would do anything to place his hands on her waist and drink her in forever. But as soon as her lips are there, they’re gone and he’s left outside the castle gates; once again, wishing he could follow her wherever she goes.

He had absolutely no intention of even being in Arendelle, let alone go to the wedding and yet here he was, stood outside her dressing room, heart pounding in his chest. Sven had pushed and pushed him to go and despite arguing his case thoroughly, he had lost. He hated losing.

He knocks ever so quietly as not to disturb the peace and he’s about to knock again when a small voice calls out ‘Come in’ and its now or never. He walks in and he can’t stop his mouth from falling open. Anna is stood in front of him in a white dress, her hair tied up into a delicate bun. She’s just adjusting her veil when Kristoff walks in and her face breaks out into a smile, lighting up the entire room. She is perfect in every way and he knows now he can never possibly let her go.

He goes to speak when Elsa walks into the room, and he can’t help but admit how beautiful she looks as well. Dressed in a sparkly blue dress, with a crown placed upon her head, she looks every bit the Queen and Kristoff has an overwhelming desire to bend down and bow. But he won’t; not yet anyway.

“Oh, Kristoff! What a pleasant surprise, I didn’t expect to see you here.” Elsa addresses him personally, her tone warm but her eyes cold. “Is there any particular reason you’re in the Princesses dressing room, on her wedding day?”

He swallows the lump rising in his throat and coughs before addressing her. “I have a gift for the Princess, your majesty. I wanted to gift it to her before I left Arendelle.”

“You’re... you’re leaving?” Anna’s tiny voice fills the room and he allows himself to look at her. She has moved across the room and is now standing directly in front of him, so the only thing he can see is her.

“Yes, my family needs me in the mountains so I’m to return there for the foreseeable future.”

They look at one another and it doesn’t matter that this is her wedding day; he couldn’t and wouldn’t stop loving her even if it meant letting her go.

A small cough breaks his reverie and he tears his gaze away from Anna to look at Elsa, whose eyes have now softened.

“Well Kristoff, I shall leave you and Anna to it. Please bear in mind the wedding begins in twenty minutes.” She walks towards the door, grabbing her sisters’ hand as she passes and he misses the words she mouths to Anna. She’s at the door when she turns and addresses him once more. “Oh and one more thing Kristoff. Thank you, for what you did for Anna and me during the unexpected winter. I don’t know what we would have done without you.” She smiles at him and gives a slight nod of the head and seconds later she has gone, leaving him alone with the woman of his dreams.

It takes him a moment or two to look back at Anna and when he does he can barely breathe. They are standing chest to chest; well chest to head as he is at least a foot taller than her and she is looking up at him, like he is the only person that exists.

“You have a gift for me?” She whispers, her sweet breath caressing his face. He shudders slightly at the sound of her voice and he will not kiss her, he won’t. He takes a step back and reaches into his pocket, pulling out a small jewellery box and hands it to her. Her fingers brush gently against his and he shudders once again, all the blood draining from his body and rushing to his head.

Anna opens the box and gasps. “Oh Kristoff, it’s beautiful. Wherever did you get it?”

“Grandpappie, kind of. He gifted me the gems and I... well I made it.” He can feel the blush spread to his cheeks and he lifts a hand to rub the back of his neck in embarrassment. She gives him the biggest smile he has ever seen and he can feel the smile spreading across his own face. “I wanted you to have a piece of the mountains and a reminder of, um, how we met. Hence the snowflake.”

“It’s wonderful, thank you. I want to wear it now.” She turns towards the mirror and removes the necklace she is currently wearing. He watches her struggle with the clasp for a few seconds and moves hesitantly towards her.

“May I?”

She nods and he takes the necklace from her grasp, bringing it around her neck and fastening it with ease. He allows himself to linger a few extra seconds, taking in the slenderness of her neck, wondering how it would feel under his lips. His fingers graze the back, as he moves a few wispy bits of hair and he feels her tremble beneath his touch. He looks at the two of them in the mirror and allows himself a small smile; they really do look wonderful together.

“Kristoff?”

“Yes Anna?”

“I can’t marry Hans.”

He isn’t sure how long has passed but he’s certain they’re running out of time.

He’s still stood by the mirror but Anna is no longer in front of him. She is currently wringing her hands together and pacing the room. He wants to say something, anything but it’s like he has forgotten every word he’s ever learnt. The only words he knows are ”I can’t marry Hans.”

She finally stops pacing and rubs her hands down her face. “I can’t do it, I won’t do it. Arendelle doesn’t need the Southern Isles and I sure as hell don’t need Hans.” She sounds more confident now. “It’ll be fine. I’ll just go out there and tell them and if it means that I’ve ruined everything then so be it. I’ll run away to the mountains, I’ve done it once before. I can do it again.” She’s rambling now and he knows she won’t stop till he says something but he has a lump in his throat that just won’t go away. “And who knows, maybe he’ll be fine with it. Maybe he’ll agree. Maybe he’ll laugh and be like ‘thank goodness’. Or you know, maybe he’ll threaten me with death...”

That snaps him out of his thoughts and he forces himself to speak. “Anna, I’d never let him hurt you. Never. But why don’t you want to marry him? I thought he was your true love?”

“He’s not my true love Kristoff. I know that much.”

“But the winter went away, the sun came back. I thought an act of true love could only fix it?”

She sighs and buries her hands in her face, before finding a seat. She remains like that for a few moments before looking back at him.

“I didn’t tell you this because I didn’t think I’d ever see you again. Then when I saw you and Sven in the city, I couldn’t bring myself to tell you the truth. I didn’t want you to think less of me...” She looks down towards her hands in her lap.

He strides across the room and bends down in front of her. He takes her hands in one of his, and tilts her head with the other so he can look at her directly.

“Anna, I would never think less of you. Tell me what happened.”

“Well I returned to the castle and found Hans. I told him that Elsa had frozen my heart and that only an act of true love could fix it. He suggested the kiss and so he sat me down and we kissed.” She blushes at that point and looks away. “But it didn’t work. I still had a frozen heart and I was getting weaker by the minute. Hans didn’t think anything of it and declared he was going to find Elsa so he could fix it. I was on my own for ages, Kristoff, just getting colder and colder when I had an idea. So I ventured back outside, into the oncoming storm and found myself on the frozen sea. I was wandering further and further away from the castle when I saw Weselton brandishing a sword. He was going to kill Elsa and I knew I couldn’t let that happen, so I changed course and stood in front of her. Well the effect of having a frozen heart took hold and I ended up becoming a statue.

“I wasn’t expecting it but Elsa’s love for me, unfroze me. I guess after all those years apart and thinking she hated me, I was wrong. She really did love me. So, yeah, she realised what she had to do to fix the winter, did it and there was no reason for me not to marry Hans.”

Kristoff couldn’t breathe, it hadn’t worked. Which meant someone out there could be her true love, could it be him? Would she allow it to be him?

“What was your idea?”

“Hmm?” She looks confused and nervously tucks a stray bit of hair behind her ear.

“You said you had an idea, whilst you were getting colder waiting for Hans to return. What was it?”

“Oh.” She blushes now and it is the most wonderful thing he has seen. Her cheeks look fuller and all of her freckles stand out. “I thought... um... well... I thought I would look for you.”

“Me?”

They look at each other and if he thought he knew anything of love before he was wrong. The look in her eyes lets him know that this, this was love and that he wasn’t being silly when he knew she loved him back. He just needed to hear it now, just needed to voice it.

“Yes. I thought maybe you would have an idea of how to fix it. Seeing as my kiss with Hans didn’t work. I thought maybe...” She breaks off and giggles nervously. She is so Anna and she’s perfect and she’s beginning to lean closer towards him and he can’t help but lean towards her and they’re so close, the lips almost meet...

And then a harsh laugh is heard behind him.

He turns around slowly, unable to hide the disappointment which flashes across his face and he sees Hans stood there, looking particularly angry, a hand hovering over his sword.

“Well, well, well, what do we have here? Oh Anna, I expected so much better from you. I really did.” Hans’ voice is a snarl, and he moves menacingly towards the two of them. They both scramble to their feet, and Kristoff puts a protective arm around Anna.

“Hans, this isn’t what it looks like. I was just saying goodbye to Anna, that’s all.”

“Oh do be quiet Kristoff. I know exactly what’s going on here. Do you think I’m stupid? Do you think I haven’t noticed the longing looks the two of you give one another when you think you’re the only one around? Do you think I didn’t notice that my kiss didn’t work Anna? That you then went out into the storm in search of him?”

Anna peeks out from behind Kristoff and stands beside him, taking his hand. He tries to ignore the way his pulse quickens at this small gesture and squeezes her hand in support.

“Get over it Hans, I don’t love you and I don’t want to marry you. There is only person in this room I want to be with and as I’ve just said, it isn’t you.” Anna stands proudly and stares her now ex-fiancée down.

“I should have made sure you died in that room.” Hans raises his sword above his head and Kristoff is sure this is how he dies, Anna’s small hand in his and although he never got to tell her how he feels, he knows she knows and that’s all that matters really...

But there’s no crushing blow, no blood splatter; just the sound of the door crashing open and Hans being slammed against the wall, in an icy blast. Elsa is stood in the doorway, flanked by guards, hands trembling.

“Anna, Kristoff, are you both okay?” She asks them, never taking her eyes of Hans.

“We’re fine Elsa, we’re fine. Thank you.” Anna speaks before he gets the chance and she cuddles closer to his side.

“Well Prince Hans, I imagine this isn’t quite how you pictured your wedding day going. As Queen of Arendelle, I banish you from ever returning. You shall be sent back to the Southern Isles and I will personally let your brothers know of your misdoings.” She turns away from him to address her guards. “Take him away and send him on the next boat home, I want him as far away from Anna as possible.” She turns to face him once more and leans close. “If you ever try and return to hurt her again, I will personally make sure that you never see the light of day again. Goodbye Prince Hans” She stands aside so the guards can escort him out and then it’s just the three of them.

Elsa finally looks at them and rushes over to hug Anna. “Oh I was so worried about you. Thank god I got here when I did. You sure you’re okay?” She places both of her hands on the side of her sisters’ face.

“Elsa I’m fine, thanks to you. I can’t believe I was due to marry him!”

“Well there’s no need to worry about that now, he will never be able to hurt you again. Come on, let’s get you home. It’s time to put this day behind us.” Elsa takes her hand and goes to lead her out of the room, stopping once she realises Kristoff is still stood there. “You too Kristoff, you’re coming with us surely?”

He can barely contain the grin that breaks out across his face.

It’s not till much later, when they’re sat together on her sofa that he realises that she hasn’t let go of his hand since she took it earlier.

It’s been two weeks and he is still yet to kiss her.

He keeps missing his opportunity, cursing Hans at every chance he gets, but he knows when the perfect moment arrives, it’ll be the most wonderful feeling in the world.

He hasn��t left her side since Elsa stopped Hans, except to go home and sleep, but he’s back in her life before they get a chance to miss one another. He can’t quite believe his luck, that Anna chose him over everyone else and every morning he thanks his lucky stars that he gets to love her.

He’s yet to tell her that as well but he knows, soon he will.

“Kristoff?”

“Yes?”

“Are you coming? I’ve got something to show you!” Anna has a huge grin on her face and is bouncing on the balls of her feet, and he knows that today is the day. Today he will kiss her and tell her everything he is feeling in that one simple act.

“Yeah, I’m coming.” He says as she exits the room, a bundle of nervous energy.

Kristoff was used to being alone and he was fine with that.

And then Anna came into his life and changed his entire viewpoint of what it meant to be alone.

Because even when he was, he knew she was out there somewhere, being the best thing to happen to him and so he would never be alone again.

#Kristanna #Kristoff/Anna #my fics #takes place as Kristoff leaves Anna at the gates #ao3 fanfic #Kristoff Bjorgman #anna of arendelle

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ssadumba55 · 3 years ago

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Being Anna and Elsa's Little Sister

Request: Headcanons for being Anna and Elsa’s younger sibling?

A/N: I had a lot of ideas, so this is really long and spans the two main movies!!! Hope that's okay! Since this will be coming out on Monday, Happy Easter???

Frozen

Growing up you were very close to Anna. Because of Elsa's powers, she was locked away. You weren't really there (being too young when it happened) so you had no idea what had happened to Anna as a kid. In fact, all of your earliest memories were of you and Anna. You barely remembered Elsa.

Of course, that all changed after your parents passed on and Elsa was to be coronated as Queen. You and Anna were so excited for the castle gates to be opened. It was Anna's dream to be married to a handsome prince, it was yours to see and explore the world.

Meeting Elsa for what you remembered as the first time was intimidating. She was nothing like Anna, she was stoic, focused, quiet, much like your parents had been.

Everything happens so fast at that party. One second you're awkwardly avoiding Elsa (because you don't know where Anna wandered off to and being left alone with your eldest sister is awkward) and the next Elsa and Anna are arguing.

You try to calm Anna down, but she keeps prodding and Elsa reveals to the entire kingdom that she has ice powers.

Instead of leaving Hans in charge while she goes to save your eldest sister, Anna entrusts the kingdom to you. It's a lot of pressure on you, especially since you were never supposed to bear the burden in the first place. Constantly you hear the kingdom murmur about how you're unfit to lead.

The other delegates constantly question your decisions to help the people of Arendelle and this leads you to constantly question yourself. The worst part of it all though is Hans, where you struggle he succeeds. He takes over the majority of your duties with ease and acceptance that you don't garner. He finds every chance he can to undermine you.

The two of you battle for the position until your sisters horse comes back with no rider and Hans heads off to find her. With him gone, you step into the role of leadership with a newfound confidence. There's no way you're letting Hans take your kingdom, it seems like he really wants it.

With Anna's frozen heart and Elsa locked in the dungeon, you're the last thing standing between Hans and the throne. Unfortunately for him, it's not as easy as he'd thought it'd be to convince you to step down.

With you defending the throne, he sees the best course of action will be to kill Elsa, let Anna die and convince you to marry him somehow (then stage a little accident). Of course, his plan falls through, Anna saves Elsa from being killed and Elsa's love for her sister thaws Anna's frozen heart. The two walk away mostly unscathed with a whole bunch of new friends.

They're super worried about you, but proud of you for standing your ground. Elsa works hard after that to build a relationship with both her little sisters, although she was closer to Anna when you all were kids she tries her best to get to know you as well.

You constantly tease Anna about Kristoff, but you get along with him extremely well. He's seen more of the world than any of you. His stories of ice collecting fascinate you.

Frozen 2

When things start to go awry in Arendelle, Elsa and Anna decide to go and find out what's wrong. But being their baby sister, they forbid you from tagging along (which is super annoying!!!). They leave you once more in charge of the kingdom in their abscence.

You pass the time spending time with the people, wishing you were out there with your sisters, Kristoff and Olaf.

There isn't much to do while they're gone, the people can't go back to their homes so you try your best to comfort and reassure them that Anna and Elsa will fix everything and be back soon. Eventually they do return home, but they're both completely new people (okay not completely but they've definitely grown!)

They explain the truth behind your heritage and Anna takes over as Queen while Elsa chooses to spend more time with your mothers tribe. She still keeps in touch frequently.

After all of this, you finally get your chance to explore the world. Anna is sad to see you go, but you promise to come back and visit often.

Throughout the years, you, Anna and Elsa come together many times to spend time together especially when you miss each other. But you're all happy living your own separate lives.

And yes, Anna and Elsa still consistently worry about you even if you're doing fine on your own.

#disney imagine #disney headcanons #frozen imagine #frozen headcanons #platonic disney imagine #princess anna x reader #queen elsa x reader #female reader #female imagine

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hafanforever · 5 years ago

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Keep Your Hands to Yourself

In Frozen, we see that Elsa occasionally displays a nervous habit of holding herself by placing her hands on her elbows and positioning them inward towards her. Most of the time, she creates ice and snow from her hands, especially when she extends them out in front of her. The appearance of Elsa’s creations relate to her emotions, and she has trouble maintaining control of her magic whenever she feels scared, angry, panicky, or any other strong negative emotion(s). So whenever she experiences said emotions, Elsa assumes this posture to reduce the chances of releasing ice unintentionally or accidentally, and subsequently losing total control of her magic.

But the other major reason why Elsa holds herself is that it has become a gesture of comforting herself of sorts, one that no one else could do. If you remember, when she is 12, Elsa is still struggling to control her powers, especially when her negative emotions run rampant. When Agnarr tries to reach towards and comfort his terrified daughter, Elsa pulls away, refusing to be touched. By now, Elsa has become deathly scared that she might gravely harm or kill anyone who comes in contact with her, with her biggest concerns being aimed towards her family. Unable to bear the thought of harming them due to the instability of her magic through her anxiety and fear, Elsa refuses to let her father touch or hug her. This scene is so heartbreaking because Elsa clearly needs a hug here, but to her, it’s no longer an option.

By the time she is 18, Elsa has completely banned herself from having any physical contact with her sister and parents. Before Agnarr and Iduna leave for their trip, all Elsa does to bid them goodbye is curtsy. No physical contact is initiated between either party. After the couples’ death and funeral, Elsa is seen alone in her room, which is frozen with ice and snowflakes hang in the air, suspended by her grief.

Although it’s short, this is the first moment in the film where Elsa displays the posture of holding herself. This scene subtly reveals that when she holds herself, she is actually “hugging” herself as a means of comfort in her time of mourning. Since Elsa no longer allows anyone to hug or affectionately touch her to ease her when she feels sad, worried, anxious, or scared, “hugging” herself is the only option she has left.

The second scene, but the first major one, in which Elsa holds herself is after she tells Anna “Then leave”, and she continues to do it when she walks away and says, “Enough, Anna!”, while Anna badgers Elsa with questions about why she coldly closes herself off from her (Anna) and the rest of the world. Anna’s nonstop persistence of questioning her sister culminates with Elsa’s agitation reaching its tipping point when she unleashes a barrier of ice spikes from her hand upon turning around and shouting, “I said, ENOUGH!”

Immediately before all of this happens, Elsa orders the gates to be closed, and Anna objects by following Elsa, grabbing one of her gloves (though she was actually trying to take Elsa by the hand instead), and desperately pleading for Elsa to realize that she (Anna) can no longer live her life being cut off from the people of Arendelle and the rest of the world. Elsa assumes this posture because she is growing agitated by Anna’s demanding persistence of her distant behavior. This scene shows perfectly that Elsa has trouble maintaining control of her powers when experiencing negative emotions, and especially so when Anna is around to spur them. Elsa doesn’t want things to get out of hand (no pun intended, of course! 😆😝) and attract unwanted attention, so she tries to walk away and keep her hands closed in to prevent any magic from being let loose...which is ultimately unsuccessful by the end of this scene.

Then later, after Elsa runs away following her secret being exposed, Anna comes to find her sister at the ice palace. Although both girls are initially delighted to see each other, after Anna says they can be close again like they were as children, Elsa becomes consumed by anxiety and fear because she cannot forget the horrible childhood memory of when she nearly killed Anna. Like the earlier scene, Elsa wants to avoid taking a chance of losing control of herself and making dangerous ice, so while saying they cannot be close again, Elsa assumes her posture as she attempts to bid Anna goodbye and walk away from her.

After throwing Anna, Olaf, and Kristoff out of her palace, Elsa’s fear intensifies because she has learned of the fate she has brought upon Arendelle. Not only does she briefly fold her arms inward and hold herself again, but she paces back and forth around her palace while telling herself “Control it” and “Don’t feel.”

In the six years since Frozen came out, we had the shorts Frozen Fever and Olaf’s Frozen Adventure take place after it. Both films depict Elsa being happier and much more confident in herself, her magic, and in her role as the queen of Arendelle. So perhaps some fans thought that by the time that Frozen II takes place, which is three years after Frozen, Elsa would be so happy and confident that we would never see the habit of her holding herself again.

But no, that does not happen; Elsa resumes this posture a few times in Frozen II. Seeing her do it in this film made me realize a few other reasons of why she does it in the original film that I didn’t realize when I first saw it years ago.

Elsa is first seen with this posture when she finally tells Anna about the voice, which is immediately after the people of Arendelle have been evacuated from the kingdom. Then she does it a couple more times when she and Anna discover the wreck of their parents’ ship and how they died.

The fact that Elsa holds herself in these scenes tell me that, despite the obvious progress she has made about herself since the end of Frozen, like the one song says, some things have not changed. Elsa still exhibits this habit because she has been doing it for years; 13 years, in fact. Doing any nervous habit like this for such a length of time is EXTREMELY hard to break. At the end of the first movie, Elsa was only just BEGINNING to gain confidence in herself because she realized that love is the key to controlling her powers, and her people have accepted her once they see the good things she can do with them. But these sudden changes, no matter how optimistic they would be, would NOT make Elsa instantly gain confidence and think nothing but positivity about herself and her magic. When you spend so many years thinking pessimistically about yourself, it can take many more years to be completely convinced to think just the opposite. Lots of positive reinforcement is always a good start, but it is easy to slip up and fall back into bad habits, and Elsa proves this by resuming the posture in the aforementioned scene.

So even after three years, Elsa has not grown confident and happy enough to change her old ways.

Two realizations I had about Elsa assuming this posture in the original film is that it emphasizes her having feelings of guilt (in which she takes any and all blame on herself) and reluctance. These feelings are further stressed during the scenes in Frozen II because Elsa barely makes eye contact with Anna. In the scene following Arendelle’s evacuation, Elsa’s posture and avoidance of looking at Anna implies that she is feeling guilty, not just about not mentioning the voice sooner, but also about having wakened the spirits and forced the citizens to evacuate after Arendelle’s elements were disrupted. Her actions also shows that Elsa is still very reluctant to open up about her feelings and admit things to Anna, especially anything secretive, anything that bothers her. This makes a lot of sense to me since Elsa spent more than a decade being taught to conceal her emotions and feelings in order to control her magic. Guilt was another negative emotion Elsa had felt for years and struggled to control, especially after Anna’s accident. And now, as the sole ruler of Arendelle, Elsa carries the weight of the kingdom on her shoulders. She assumes the responsibility of the safety and well-being of her people. When she causes problems or misfortunes in Arendelle that affects many, if not all, of its citizens, Elsa either carries large amounts of guilt and blames herself for them or feels tremendous amounts of worry and anxiety about how to resolve them. She is VERY hard on herself, and like her posture, shedding strong feelings like guilt and learning to not take all of the blame are not things that Elsa would be able to do in a snap.

So again, even after three years, being more optimistic, less guilty, and open about her feelings are things that are not particularly easy for Elsa to do.

For the entire scene with their parents’ shipwreck, Elsa holds herself when she and Anna watch the water memory of Agnarr and Iduna’s final moments, when she heartbrokenly walks away and assumes responsibility for their deaths, and then finally after she sends Anna and Olaf away in the ice canoe.

Like earlier, Elsa does her posture while and after watching her parents’ final moments. She realizes that Agnarr and Iduna died while they were searching for answers about her powers, and so she guiltily pins herself as the sole cause for their deaths. When Anna tries to get Elsa to see that it is not her fault at all, Elsa again (initially) refuses to make eye contact with her sister as part of her guilt. Again, Elsa’s guilt is emphasized here like the earlier scene because she assumes responsibility for the well-being of her family just like she does with her kingdom. Anything her family members do that relate to her makes Elsa believe that she holds all the responsibility for their decisions, and this is why she believes she alone is the reason her parents are dead. This is perhaps the only moment in the whole film where Elsa reverts back to her old beliefs that her powers make her a danger, burden, and curse to her family and the world. Although Elsa begins to regain her faith when Anna says that Elsa is a gift because of their mother’s good deed of rescuing their father and that she (Anna) believes in her (Elsa) to free the forest and save Arendelle, it would be Elsa’s eventual discovery of her purpose as the fifth spirit that would make her gain ultimate confidence in and acceptance of herself and her powers. 😉😊

The last moment in the film that shows Elsa holding herself is when she sends Anna and Olaf away in the ice canoe. Before this moment, Anna insists on coming with Elsa to Ahtohallan to keep Elsa safe, to keep her from dying. But Elsa adamantly refuses to let Anna come, knowing that they would both perish trying to cross the Dark Sea. After saying she can’t lose Anna and hugging her, Elsa creates the boat and watches Anna and Olaf slide away down the bank until they are out of sight. Now Elsa’s face in this moment shows that she does feel guilty and unhappy what she did, but she had to do it anyway. As I said here, Anna could not come with Elsa to Ahtohallan because the perils of the Dark Sea could have killed them both, and then they would have been unable to complete their mission. For now, Elsa may have broken her promise that she and Anna would do their mission together. But even though they weren’t physically together the whole time, they did do it together. So in the end, Elsa still kept her promise.

But these two scenes aren’t the only times since the original film that Elsa has exhibited these actions to show her guilt about something. In Frozen Fever, when Anna holds the sick, weak Elsa as they walk back to the castle together, Elsa folds her arms in and doesn’t look Anna in the eye as she apologizes for her belief that she ruined her sister’s birthday.

Like I said before, some things did not change between Frozen and Frozen II, and these are two things that Elsa did not change about herself following 13 years of repression and isolation to three years of no longer hiding from the world.

The other realization I had about Elsa’s posture, particularly with these two scenes in Frozen II and the scene in Frozen Fever, is that it is a clear sign of her introversion, and so is her reluctance to make eye contact with Anna. These are things to which I can strongly relate because I am also an introvert. We introverts do not always like to be open about our feelings, particularly whenever something is bothering us. It’s only after encouragement from the people to whom we are the closest, be it family members, friends, or both, that we are more willing to be honest and less reluctant about our feelings, and share them rather than hide them.

By the end of Frozen II, and I can’t stress this enough, Elsa finally knows exactly who and what she is, has discovered her true calling in life is, and knows why she has magic. And by finally having all of the answers to what she has wanted to know all of her life, Elsa can definitely change her actions of holding herself and not making eye contact when feeling guilty, as well as learning to be less reluctant to hide her feelings and admit them. Like any habit that is practiced for years, changing them would be a gradual practice for her, not instant. But I have every confidence in my girl that she can do it. 😁😄❤️

#Frozen 2 analyses #Frozen analyses #Disney #Disney Frozen 2 #Disney Frozen #Frozen 2 #Frozen #Elsa #hands #posture #body language #1K #2K #my stuff #mine

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punkpoemprose · 4 years ago

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December 10th- A Convenient Arrangement Part 2

Universe: Canonverse Arranged Marriage AU Rating:T (mentions of sex, negative self esteem, and a brief panic attack) Length: 4889 Words

A/N: Happy Birthday @upthenorthmountain Anna! Here’s a part 2 for the unbirthday fic I wrote you back in April. I’ve been dying to continue this one for a while, and I actually have a 10 chapter arc planned out for it. If anyone is like “hmmm that’s funny, I thought Anna’s birthday was a couple days ago” or “hmmm interesting I thought today was the 12th), you’d both be correct. I am currently two days late and two dollars short, but that’s what happens when I decide to write almost 5000 words instead of like 1k tops like these advent fics are supposed to be. Also sorry that this chapter hurts a little. It gets better. But anyway! Follow up to this [X] Proofreading? We don’t know her.

When Anna awoke, she felt warm, perhaps even a bit hot despite the lightness of her summer coverlet. She was tucked into her blankets comfortably but couldn’t remember crawling under them the night before.

There was a warm light coming through the window, and though she kept her eyes closed for a short while longer, letting herself wake leisurely, she knew that it must be sometime after six. She normally slept in a bit, letting the sun rise without her, but today for some reason she felt a bit strange for being in bed. Perhaps, she thought, it was because she thought that her life should have changed somehow, even from the waking, after her wedding the day before.

She opened her eyes cautiously, letting them adjust to the light with her lids fluttering. She wasn’t sure why she was surprised to find herself alone in bed when she checked, after so many years of waking up alone it shouldn’t surprise her, but there was the memory of touch in her hand now.

She didn’t know why she expected him to be there come morning.

Her eyes felt a bit teary and she blamed it on the light. She wanted to pretend for a moment that nothing had changed, that she’d never met Hans and that she had never had to follow the flow of the cascade of events that followed because of the meeting. She was married now, and while it was blessedly not to the cruel hearted foreign prince, it was to a stranger.

A stranger who had left her alone in their marriage bed, if of course one could call it a marriage bed. They hadn’t christened it as such, leaving it the same bed it had always been for her. The feeling of it though was different, wrong, like it had suddenly sprouted lumps and bumps and strange angles.

She was married, and as she sat up in the bed, glancing around the room, she realized she had no idea where her husband was.

“Kristoff?” she called quietly, her voice quiet and croaking from disuse overnight.

It still felt strange to say his name, to know that it was what her husband was called. It had happened so quickly she hadn’t even known it until awfully long before the ceremony, and now she could feel an ache in her chest that she couldn’t explain with anything except his absence. It was an ache named Kristoff.

There was no sound, no trace of him, and so she pulled herself from the bed and came to the realization that she was, in fact, still wearing the underlayers of her wedding attire. She’d shed her corset, but the chemise, petticoats, drawers, and stockings were still all fully in place. More proof to the fact that, while he’d been kind about it, her husband hadn’t wanted her on their wedding night.

She couldn’t help the tears that welled up in her eyes, they came for both joy and despair. She was married to a stranger, a kind one, but a stranger nevertheless. He’d seemed interested in getting to know her the night before, to at least become friends. She’d never really had friends before, and while the promise of not feeling so alone anymore was a comforting one, there was something about waking up without him that made her feel as though it was just a promise to get through the night. She was glad that he wasn’t just interested in her station, or her body, but she couldn’t help but feel alone and unwanted in the moment.

Had he waited for her to fall asleep before he left? Had he stayed until morning and rose earlier than she had?

He doesn’t owe you anything.

The thought was true, and yet she wished that he would have woken her instead of letting her think he’d run off.

Maybe he did.

She huffed, her eyes stinging with tears as she scrubbed them from her cheeks quickly. A lady’s maid would be arriving soon to help her dress and to serve her breakfast, and she wouldn’t let them see her cry. Even if she liked the staff, even if they were kind to her, she knew how rumors spread in the castle walls.

The last thing she wanted for herself, for her sister, for their kingdom, was the rumor that the princess was already unhappy in her marriage.

***

She found him by chance.

Thinking that it was perhaps better to pretend she knew exactly where her husband was, she didn’t ask the staff if they’d seen him. Instead, she’d went hunting through the halls for Kai or Gerda whom she knew were not particularly gossipy and who knew almost all the goings on in and out of the castle doors as the heads of staff.

She’d instead seen him as she passed by a second-floor window that happened to overlook the stables and paddock where he stood, brushing a large and rather neatly kept looking reindeer. It, she thought, must be the “friend” he’d mentioned the night before.

It took her a moment to decide whether to feel happy or embarrassed as she watched him. She’d never really been the sort of woman, let alone princess, who believed that the structure of things needed to stay as it was, but there was something in her that was embarrassed at the fact that her new husband was spending the morning with a reindeer instead of getting to know her when a groom could very well take care of the animal.

The warmth in her cheeks did fade quickly in the walk down to the stables though.

He doesn’t owe you anything.

The thought repeated in her head a few times as she went down the stairs, through the halls, outdoors and to his side, until when she arrived, she was feeling a touch defeated but significantly less upset. The reindeer seemed to notice her approach before he did, its head picking up a bit and turning towards her. She thought, as she stood just to its side, that it had very expressive eyes for an animal, and it reminded her a bit of her horse Kjekk who could also seem strangely human at times.

She supposed it was just many years without company that caused her to think so, but perhaps not, as in the moments she stood there, looking into the eyes of the reindeer but without being noticed yet by her husband, she heard him quietly talking to the animal.

“I’m not really sure what to do buddy.”

He said it with such finality that Anna realized that this was the end of their “conversation” and not the start. She felt a bit silly, maybe, looking at the reindeer and feeling like she’d interrupted something. So instead of listening any longer, perhaps hearing more than she should, she cleared her throat.

Kristoff seemed to realize then, that the Reindeer was looking at something, and that the something was her. And that, by association, she had just cleared her throat, meaning that she had heard him talking to the reindeer. She saw the gears spinning in his head as his eyes filled with recognition and then something hard that made her wish she’d just stayed in bed.

“Oh sorry, I’m…”

She stopped. She wasn’t sure what she was. Sorry? She was, but she’d already said it. Confused? She was, but he didn’t need to know that. Annoyed? That at least felt true as he was staring at her like she’d done something terribly wrong, even though he was the one who promised to try to make things work the night before, but who she’d needed to track down in the morning.

“I’m awkward,” she supplied, adding another quiet apology after for good measure, “Sorry.”

The dark look, the suspicion, the confusion, lifted then.

He laughed at her.

She felt embarrassment flare again, her face going hot and her stomach twisting in an all too familiar way. She wanted to walk away, to flee back to the castle, to her gallery, and pretend for a moment that nothing had changed, but her feet wouldn’t move under her.

She was too focused on his laughter and the voice in her head that always seemed prepared to remind her of where she stood.

You’re always the joke. The fool. The spare.

“You’re in good company then,” he said, his tone warm and mirthful in a way that had been comforting to her the night before, “I’m pretty awkward too.”

***

She held his hand loosely in her own, and while he wasn’t holding back, there was an occasional squeeze of his fingers against the back of her hand. The squeezes reminded her that no matter what her treacherous mind might be saying, he was not opposed to the contact, just adjusting to it as she was. They hadn’t discussed that yet, the contact, and how he seemed hesitant about it while she craved it. It was something they’d need to talk about soon, especially when every brush of fingers made her feel like she was breathing for the first time but was also so overwhelming to her that she sometimes forgot to breathe altogether.

Before her incident, before her sister’s realization that the castle gates would need to be open, no one had really touched her. She had a lady’s maid, but there was never any real reason to be dressed well enough to require her services. She’d brushed out her own hair, bathed herself, donned her own skirts, and went about her day before plaiting her hair, removing her clothes and putting on nightclothes before she slept. So now, even with the previous affections of the man she wished she could forget about, she could sometimes feel the effects of going so many years without contact.

Much to her chagrin it often felt like that need to be touched, that ache in her heart for physical affection, was amplified by the small touches that Kristoff was giving or allowing her. They would need to talk about it soon. Just as they needed to talk about his intentions to leave soon for a trip back into the mountains that he assured her would be brief.

He wouldn’t explain his reasons for going to her yet. He’d only mentioned retrieving some of his belongings until they “better figured out” how “this all” would be working out. He’d promised that he’d stay at least another night before leaving, and that they could talk about his leaving before he went.

It was a kindness, she knew. He was not her prisoner, but her husband. He was free to come and go as he pleased, and he did not need her consent to do so. The warning though was appreciated.

“This is the kitchen,” she said in the most pleasant voice she could manage, her excitement about showing him around the castle was dimmed somewhat by the fact that he’d soon be leaving the place for what she hoped truly would only be a day or so.

She pushed open the door with one hand, holding his with the other, tethering him to her as she walked him through the household.

When the door opened the smells of fresh baked bread and something fresh and sweet struck her. She’d had breakfast, but in her malaise she’d chosen porridge over anything particularly enjoyable. He, she’d learned, had not eaten anything, unable to find the kitchens or, more properly, the dining room in the morning and finding himself unwilling to ask anyone how to get there. He’d chosen instead to go to the stables because he could find his way there.

Anna suspected although he hadn’t said, that it was the only place he felt comfortable.

She heard, over the sound of the staff working away, the grumbling of his stomach behind her.

She turned to him, giving what she hoped was a sympathetic smile.

He was looking down at the floor, the tips of his ears pink.

Embrassed.

She knew how that felt. So she gripped his hand a bit tighter, hoping that it gave him strength the way that him doing so for her had during their wedding ceremony.

“Excuse me,” she called warmly, noting a bit uncomfortably how the room went quiet when the staff took note that she’d entered their space.

Before the wedding she’d often come down to the kitchens on her own. They’d had less staff then, a hiring increase part of Elsa’s attempts to smooth things over, and to help with the new onslaught of guests and dignitaries they would be feeding with the gates open, had changed the previous easygoing manner of the staff. Those who knew her saw her differently now, and those who did not probably thought the worst.

“I don’t mean to interrupt, please go about your work, but my husband and I would like to take an early lunch in the garden. We were hoping to grab some things, but you needn’t bother yourselves. I do know where everything is.”

There was an uneasiness in the atmosphere that made her chest feel tight. She hadn’t really counted anyone amongst the staff as friends in the past, they all treated her with respect to rank rather than with camaraderie, but her interactions with them had always been at least somewhat comfortable in nature. This, the feeling of fear and discomfort, was enough to have tears threatening again.

She fought against it, squeezing Kristoff’s hand for comfort again, but this time for her own.

I’m not alone. I’m okay. They’ll warm up. Everything will be fine.

She tried to repeat the mantra as she walked through the kitchen with Kristoff, feeling eyes on her. She walked over to the cabinet which held the basket she’d been using since childhood whenever she felt the need to dine outdoors, or in her gallery, or really anywhere other than the dining room or her bedroom where the staff normally saw her fed. The familiar feeling of the wicker in her hand was strengthening in a way she hadn’t expected, the sensation allowing her to pretend again, for a moment, that everything was normal.

“What would you like?” She asked softly, releasing his hand and putting on her best expression of ease as she looked back at him.

He looked uncomfortable, but not as embarrassed as he’d been when they entered. She hoped that some of her faux poise had given him some real sense of confidence in the space. He was of course, whether he liked it or not, the prince consort to the princess of Arendelle. He should at least have the confidence to step into the kitchen of his own home without feeling like he didn’t belong.

Maybe this isn’t his home.

She squashed the voice again, relegating it to the back of her thoughts as she smiled at him.

“I was thinking bread and cheese and fruit, but if you want something a little more ample I’m sure we can find it.”

He shook his head, and while she wasn’t sure whether it was because he was fine with her plans, or because he was unwilling to argue, she set to collecting the foods she’d mentioned.

When they left the kitchens after just a few short minutes, it didn’t feel fast enough.

***

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you where everything was last night,” she apologized as she popped a strawberry in her mouth.

They were in season and rather sweet. She’d just had a few slices atop some brie on a slice of fresh bread, which in her personal opinion, was food for the Gods, right up there with chocolate and coffee. She licked juice from her thumb and watched, with interest as Kristoff carefully sliced a bit of cheese for himself and spread it onto bread. He’d seemed almost confused by it, staring at it for a bit before endeavoring to serve himself which surprised her. She wasn’t really sure what foods he liked, just as she was unsure of everything else about him, save for what little detail he’d shared.

She wished that she would have been a bit more relaxed the night previous, that she would have paid attention to what he was eating at their wedding feast instead of preoccupying herself with pretending to eat. Doing that and pretending she was happy had taken all of her focus. She’d been so scared, and even though she still had her concerns now, she took comfort in knowing that her previous fears had all so far been for not.

Of course, though, as the little voice liked very much to remind her, she’d not feared enough before. Kristoff was a kind man, someone who she could learn to at least like very much if not love, but she needed to be careful. Even if that was the last thing she wanted.

His nose scrunched up terribly when he took a bite of the cheese covered bread, and Anna felt her panic rise in her chest for a moment. She wasn’t sure what she was afraid of. A sudden change of attitude? Their lunch being poisoned? She wasn’t sure, but her pulse quickened, and her chest constricted.

“Is it… is it supposed to be like that?”

“Like what?”

“Kind of… smooth? And… fungal?”

She snorted. The tension leaving her body as a breeze rustled the leaves on the tree above them, not covering the sound of her shock and amusement, but at least muffling it a bit.

“Yes. I don’t think that’s how I would describe it, but yes. It is supposed to taste like that.”

He shook his head and set the bitten piece down on the plate, looking a bit disgusted before pausing a moment and picking it back up.

“I didn’t know you didn’t care for brie. Sorry! You don’t have to eat it if you don’t like it.”

That too seemed to cause a look of confusion to cross his face, followed shortly after by a flush as he set it down and looked away from her for a moment. His eyes were trained on the scenery, and she decided to look out upon it as well.

It was a nice day, the sun was warm but not hot thanks to the passing of clouds above and a light breeze of the Fjord. She could smell the perfume of the garden’s flowers in the air, and were things between them a little less strained, she might deign to call the scene romantic. They sat close beneath a tree, on an amalgamation of a few clean saddle blankets she’d taken from the stables.

The scene was picturesque, save for them and their discomfort with one another.

How was it easier to talk to a stranger in bed than in a garden?

She hoped that she hadn’t embarrassed him, though she knew that she had. Again. She wasn’t really sure what it was she’d said or done, but she wanted him to feel comfortable with her. She reached across the space between them and took his hand again.

“You took care of me last night,” she said squeezing his hand, “You were kind and we talked, and it made me feel like everything was going to be okay. Please let me return the favor if I can? I want us to be friends.”

***

Kristoff let his fingers lace through hers. It was an unnatural motion for him, something he’d never done except for with Anna and she’d encouraged it before. Now he made the move to do so, hearing the need for comfort in her voice and not being sure how to provide it.

He squeezed gently but couldn’t bring himself to look at her. Not yet.

You don’t belong here.

His thoughts had been an endless refrain of reminders all day. He was common, he didn’t deserve to be in the castle. He’d accidentally fallen asleep in her room, atop the blankets, after tucking her in. Her fingers had still been through his, and he’d just felt so glad that she was sleeping and that he had been dealt the good fortune of actually liking his wife, that he’d allowed himself to lay at her side for a few short moments with his eyes closed.

He’d never made it out of the bed and to his room. It didn’t matter really of course, given he didn’t even know where his room was, but it did matter when he woke before her and panicked, not knowing where he was or where he belonged.

He’d thought about waking her, but it had seemed wrong. Who was he to wake a sleeping princess? Who was he to sleep in her bed all night? Who was he to even be in the castle?

He’d set off for the stables as soon as he managed to get ahold of himself well enough to figure out how to leave her room quietly enough to not alert her. He’d been lucky to find his way into and out of what appeared to servants entrances to make it outside after a short time of wandering about the hallways on his own. He’d been even luckier still to find that no one had thought to bring his meager bag of possessions into the castle, leaving them instead with Sven who was in the same stable he’d left him in the day before, albeit with more hay.

He’d changed his shirt in the stable, putting on the simple clothes he preferred over the clothes he’d worn the day before to his wedding, and had spent the rest of his time before Anna found him, caring for Sven. He hadn’t really thought much about breakfast, his concerns laying more in how he was going to manage to get himself out of someplace he clearly didn’t belong without pissing off the Queen, or worse, hurting the feelings of the Princess.

My wife.

He thought of her as that now, as she reached across the space between them and took his hand. He could feel the heat in his face as she asked him to let her help him, to talk. She meant well, he knew it, he could feel it in the way she held his hand.

You don’t belong here.

The thought came again, but he tried to silence it, holding her hand a little tighter like she was all that was holding him there, to that spot. It didn’t help much, because it was true. She was all that was holding him to that spot, to the castle, to any of it.

“I don’t belong here,” he said finally, “I… I don’t know how to act. I don’t want my actions to reflect poorly on you.”

She tugged on his hand in return, not unlacing her fingers from his, but yanking him as if to get his attention. He couldn’t look at her. He was ashamed of himself.

Ashamed of wanting to go.

Ashamed of wanting to stay.

“This over cheese?” she asked, “I don’t have the world’s most refined palate Kristoff, you don’t have to like everything I do to fit in.”

It was sweet in a way, that she didn’t understand. There was an innocence in her that he could tell had been shattered by whatever happened before he was summoned from the mountains, but it was still there, if a little cautious and broken.

She saw the best in him, he realized. He’d shown her a better picture of him than she’d imagined the night before and she was holding onto it.

It hurt him to think that not hurting her, not taking her without consent was all that it had taken for her to think that he was worth her attentions.

“It’s not the cheese Anna… or, I guess it is.”

He didn’t know how to explain to her that things that were normal for her were completely new for him. That even though she’d shown him to the kitchen today it would take him weeks to remember which hallways to turn down to make his way there.

“I’ve… I’ve never had brie or anything I didn’t make myself or buy at the market after selling something I made myself to get it. I have one room in my house. One. I wear almost the same thing every day. Anna, I know that we need to make this work, but I’m never going to belong here.”

When he looked at her, finally in his expression of the thoughts he’d had all day, feeling like he could meet her eye.

She looked like he’d struck her.

***

He’s making excuses to get away from you.

The peace she’d been struggling to make with her most cynical voice was lost. The memories of the night before where he’d been do ready to try to make things work, where he’d been kind and thoughtful, were wiped away from her thoughts as she shut down.

She felt cold despite the sun, her heart pounded in her chest.

Oh Anna. If only there were someone who loved you.

She felt like she couldn’t breathe. The panic she’d held down so well for her wedding, for the night, for the morning, resurfaced all at once. Her eyes went bleary with tears and she choked on breaths she tried to take as she tried to pull her hand away from his, but he wouldn’t release it.

Her head started to hurt, she could feel a pounding in it and in her chest as she tried to move her hand, tried to breathe, tried to think of anything else but the cold creeping into her bones again.

She felt him then, his hand release hers only for him to move towards her before she could pull away, and then his arms were around her, supporting her.

It was too much and not enough all at once as she fought to breathe again, as she tried to take comfort in the strange staticky feel of the gooseflesh rising on her skin as a reaction to his touch instead of the cold.

He’s holding you.

The kinder part of her mind was the one informing her now, forcing air back into her lungs, making her smell the sweet flowers and the warm bread and notice the look of concern on his face.

Your husband is holding you. You’re scaring him.

She forced herself to breathe through her mouth, a hiccoughing sound coming out as she did so. She leaned into his touch despite the strange feelings than ran through her skin and spine at the contact and breathed.

***

He held her close, pulling her in tight to his chest, letting her head loll a bit against his shoulder as she fought to breathe.

He didn’t understand what came over her, but it had come on suddenly, like a dark cloud. It had been worse than the resignation he’d seen in her in their wedding bed. It was worse because then the act of taking herself out of the situation mentally had seemed to him, like a choice. But whatever had happened to her in the moment before had filled her eyes with a sort of blank numbness that had terrified him.

“It’s okay,” he said, not really knowing if it was, “Breathe Anna. It’s okay.”

He had never hugged anyone other than Sven or his family, and none of them were human. There was something about holding her so close, hearing her breathing, practically feeling the thundering of her racing heart that felt more intimate to him than the kiss they’d shared at the end of their wedding.

Maybe it was because they were alone, and because her emotions were so raw, but the intimacy of it made him stop and think for a moment about his doubts. He didn’t feel like he belonged in the castle, and for all intents and purposes he didn’t. He was common, common as they came, he only made sense as staff, not the husband of a Princess.

Yet, comforting Anna felt right. Holding her through whatever she was experiencing… it felt like what he was meant to do.

You promised you’d try. You want to be a good husband to her, even if you weren’t her choice.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly, more into her hair than anything as he turned his head a bit to address her as she breathed.

“I shouldn’t have said that to you. My insecurities shouldn’t stop me from trying to make this work. I meant what I said last night. I think I’m going to like being married to you Anna. I’m going to try to make you happy if I can, and that means letting you try to make me happy too.”

She didn’t calm particularly quickly after he said it, a bit of time passed before he realized, slowly but surely that she was holding him in return, her arms wrapped around him loosely but otherwise still.

“Do you not want to move?” He finally asked, feeling good about the fact that her sobs had stopped.

“No,” she said, her voice small, “I don’t. I’m sorry. I’m not used to people wanting to touch me.”

That, he decided, was what hurt the most.

#kristanna #arranged marriage au #A Convenient Arrangement #kristannaadvent2020 #frozen fanfiction

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gryfon-spanish-werewolf · 4 years ago

Text

Spirit

@jabs-wocks made a comment about being in the mood for some angst and @justlookatthosesausages was talking about some post F2 ending/altered canon stuff the other day so I was inspired. I also wanted to make it October prompt-esque, so this one was about the word ‘Spirit’, which eventually just became the title

Edit: Also tumblr mobile? Hate you my guy, you literally deleted the entire text as I posted it, I saw you do it, so I’m here on my desktop. [Sigh] So here’s take 2.

-----

Perhaps life would never go back to normal in Arendelle. Though, how could it? The discovery of a decades long secret? The realization that the country they loved so dearly was capable of cruelty? And what to do with the Northuldra? Unite in shared blood despite history? Make reparations but go separate ways?

These are the questions that loom over Elsa and Anna in the weeks after their adventure to the Enchanted Forest.

Despite requests to stay, Elsa did return to Arendelle. Considering the circumstances, the Northuldra didn’t take offense, and welcomed her whenever she could take time away to visit and learn. But Anna sees how the days wore on her sister, rushing this way and that, rarely ever pausing to rest.

Which isn’t new, Anna sighs, watching as Elsa sets down her quill and leaves the office, closing the door behind her. A small squeak comes from the floor and Anna sees poor Bruni plop back down after launching himself towards the gap in the doorway. He’d been a second too late.

“Aww, are you okay?” Anna kneels down to check on him. “You’ll have to forgive her, she’s got a lot on her mind.”

Bruni chirps again, giving Anna a smile and an excited pitter-patter of feet. “Oh, of course,” Anna nods, “I should have known you’d already forgiven her. A wise and powerful spirit.”

The little salamander sparks magenta flame at the praise and darts away, wiggling himself under the door and scampering after Elsa.

Though the Enchanted Forest was many miles away, the spirits are often around, and have complete freedom to roam Arendelle castle. When they visit they spend the most time around the two Fifth Spirits, acknowledging Anna as one of their own. Some are more confined than others however: the Nokk could not leave the water without Elsa’s help, but it was a pleasant enough companion to sit with by the fjord.

Anna finds the Nokk there now, observing the ships coming and going.

“It’s nice isn’t it?” Anna asks. The Nokk turns it’s watery head her way, snorting a greeting. “I used to watch them from my window all the time.” Anna takes a seat next to the horse who is lounging on the sand, where the surf laps at the shore. “I’ll bet you used to watch ships come and go near Ahtohallan, before the Forest closed up.” She brings her chin to her knees. The sea washes against the spirit’s body, absorbed at regular intervals to swirl around it’s flank and belly. “Maybe without the Mist you would have seen my parents’.”

The Nokk glances up at her, attentive. Anna gazes back, trying to find answers in it’s bright blue eyes. “Would you have saved them?” The Nokk’s ear flicks but it’s expression doesn’t change. Anna chuckles to herself. “From the stories Elsa told, perhaps you wouldn’t have. You were trapped and angry and scared in the Forest. Maybe you would have seen them as just one more threat.”

A whiny is her reply, and while Anna may still be learning about the Nokk, she’s been around flesh and blood horses enough to know that the creature in front of her does look a little remorseful.

“It’s alright, I don’t blame you.” Anna leans back and looks skyward, at the clouds racing overhead. “And I know that you would now, even if we’re both uncertain of back then. Elsa may have been at the reins, but from what I heard, it was you that sped faster than a tidal wave to make it back here before Arendelle was destroyed. And your power that helped her hold the water back. I will always be grateful to you for saving my… our home.”

The Nokk lowers it’s head and rests it near her knee, letting out a long sigh that sends ripples across the shallow waves and scatters sand towards her hands. This time, it’s eyes search hers.

Anna takes pity on the spirit. “It’s okay. You couldn’t be in two places at once. Besides,” she emphasized, “you hadn’t met me yet and the dam was in the opposite direction of Arendelle. How were you to know?”

A raising of voices sounds over the wall, a commotion in the courtyard.

“Kristoff must be back,” Anna says, rising. “I should make sure everything’s alright.” The Nokk blinks slowly in farewell and dissolves back into the sea.

She was right - Kristoff had returned. As Anna enters the gates she spies Sven already being fed and watered by an enthusiastic Olaf. The reindeer looks tired, no doubt riding hard to get back before sundown. Even the proximity of Olaf’s carrot nose doesn’t seem to perk him up.

And though it was Sven who’d done all the running, Kristoff is the one who looks the most weary. He and Elsa are deep in conversation as Anna approaches, and while she’s not yet close enough to hear, she can see by the slump in his shoulders that he’s not happy.

Ever since they returned from the Forest, Kristoff has volunteered his time connecting with the Northuldra, helping them however they needed as they adjusted to life free of the Mist. Additionally, he began serving as Arendelle’s unofficial ambassador when Elsa couldn’t be around herself. At first Elsa had tried to dissuade him, saying he needed to recover from his own experiences in the Forest, that he didn’t need to serve Arendelle in a capacity he wasn’t comfortable with. He just laughed and tugged on his sash, saying, “Well you never know, Elsa. They might just be my family too.”

The travels were clearly wearing on him, but Kristoff seemed to want to keep moving, keep occupied, always doing something with his feet and his hands.

But Anna doesn’t miss the way he sinks gratefully into Elsa’s warm embrace. Doesn’t miss the way they hug tight. How Elsa disappears behind his broad shoulder, taking a moment to hide in it’s shadow. How Kristoff’s hands pull her close, as though to remind him of something.

“It will be dark soon,” Anna hears Kristoff say as they separate. Elsa turns her head to the west, then up into the hills.

“I’ll be back before dinner,” Elsa says without looking back. Kristoff nods and steps back.

A horse, already prepared, is brought to Elsa which she mounts and steers towards the gates. She’s about to leave when Kristoff calls her name softly from the ground. “Elsa?” Anna is nearly level with them now, but pauses at his tone. “It’s okay if you’re late. We… we understand. Just,” he shuffles on his feet before laying a hand on the horse’s side and meeting her eye. “Take care of yourself, promise?”

Elsa’s eyes glisten for a moment before she nods. “I’ve made a lot of promises recently,” she replies, her voice strained. “But I’ll keep this one.”

She flicks the reins and departs. Kristoff doesn’t linger either, heading back into the castle with Olaf and Sven.

Anna looks between the two groups: at the rapidly disappearing back of her sister and at the somber march of the three heading home. She puts her hands on her hips.

“Honestly,” she huffs, “no one around here knows how to take a break!”

She hears a chittering whistle above her head. Laughter, strange for certain, but a sound Anna has come to love.

“Glad you agree, Gale,” Anna smiles as Gale weaves around her clothes in greeting. Another glance tells Anna that Kristoff and the others were nearly inside. Elsa on the other hand had vanished as soon as she left town. Anna bites her lip as Gale swirls pensively around her. “I know I should probably check on Kristoff but… he does have Sven and Olaf. He- he’ll be alright, for now.” She points a finger at Gale, “But remind me, okay? If I forget that’s on you.”

Gale titters in a way that can only be sarcastic, but it only makes Anna grin wider. “Sure, sure, if I really do forget then I’ll let you toss me up and down in a whirlwind until I remember. But I think you forget that I’ve gotten pretty good at coasting your wind. It won’t be like the first time.”

At this Gale slows, almost bashful, and presses into Anna’s cheek like a cat. “It’s alright! You were just being cautious! Protecting the Forest and all. Geez,” she blew a little air of her own at the wind spirit, making it chitter that laugh again. “What’s with you spirits? So sentimental.”

She sizes up the rest of the courtyard. The horsekeeper is heading in now that his job is over, and the rest of the animals were locked away. Gale races forward, toying with a latch to one of the horse stables.

“No!” Anna reprimands. “I don’t need to take a horse. And especially since-,” she falters. “Just… walk with me? It’ll be good to have someone to talk to.”

Gale floats for a moment, then heads back to tug on Anna’s sleeve, urging her forward. “Alright, alright!” Anna laughs breathlessly, letting herself be led. “I’m coming! Aren’t I the one who invited you?”

They don’t have to travel far, Anna knows where Elsa was heading.

The sun is a golden wedge on the mountain’s rocky sides, sending deep purple shadows towards the east. There’s a clearing in the forest up ahead, one Anna knows well. She passes Elsa’s horse, giving it a wide berth so as not to spook the timid creature.

She hears the sobs she expected, but the sound still cuts her, deeper than any sword.

Elsa is on her knees before the towering headstones of their parents. She hunches over herself, arms crossed against her chest, trying to contain, still, after all these years, the grief and sorrow that live inside her ribs. Her pale hair hangs over her face, which is only a few inches from the ground.

Today has been hard.

Anna knows that Elsa had likely started standing, likely started with talking. Talking until the emotions welled up like the tide, sloshing back and forth and knocking her off balance until something tipped and it all spilled out, scattering her words and knocking her legs out from underneath her.

Anna knows because she’s seen it before: the first, second, and third time Anna took Elsa to see their parent’s grave after the Thaw.

But Anna also knows that that isn’t why Elsa is here this time.

Anna approaches and gazes at the earth before her. It’s been well kept, but of course it has. Just enough time has passed for new grass to grow, despite the soft nip of winter at the end of the night. Gifts and decorations still adorn the site, fresh flowers, a stuffed reindeer, a whittled sunflower, and many, many Arendelle flags.

A sound comes Elsa then. Raw. Agonized. Keening.

Inhuman.

Inhuman in that no human being should ever sound like the weight of their despair is crushing them, breaking them, hollowing them out.

Anna is at her side immediately, and she knows, she knows what will happen but she can’t stop herself. The sight of her sister’s suffering sends trills through her very soul, un-ignorable.

She places a hand on Elsa’s shoulder, in comfort, and watches it go right through. Ethereal. Translucent.

Ghostly.

Elsa grieves in front of a third headstone in the clearing, one that bears Anna’s name, and continues to weep.

Anna finds no purchase on her sister’s form. She hasn’t since the first day she got back from the Forest. She walked those miles by herself, alone, the spirits gone or busy with the living. When she finally returned to Arendelle --after the damn, after the flood, after… the dark, dark waters-- she saw Elsa and Kristoff and ran forward. Forgetting herself, wanting only to greet them and love them.

They walked right through her embrace, like she wasn’t even there.

Because she wasn’t.

Bruni found her two days later, on the roof above Elsa’s room. Unwilling to stay too close but unable to tear herself away from her friends, her family.

Her life.

That the spirits could see her was a small comfort. Very, very small. But at least she wasn’t alone anymore. She’d had plenty of that.

Anna recoils as Elsa shudders through an exhale, her next breath wet and clogged and shallow. Snowflakes start to fall from the sky though there are no clouds, swirling and sticking to grass and fallen leaves. Elsa’s control is slipping, and Anna can’t take it anymore.

“Gale-,” Anna’s voice breaks. “Please...”

The wind spirit knows what she is asking.

It takes a few seconds, but soon leaves and soft grass stems swirl gently around Elsa’s body, dancing in air, pressing gently against her hands to coax them free of their white knuckled grieving. “Gale?” Elsa asks breathlessly, and Anna feels the need to cry herself. Her sister’s voice is hoarse and fragile. Weak like a fractured eggshell. Flower petals wipe away the tears that soak Elsa’s cheeks. Gale tips Elsa’s head up as more objects join the bobbing air current, drawn from the forest and hills beyond.

“What are you...?” Elsa begins, but as a shape takes form she gasps, fresh tears brimming in her eyes.

A simple crown weaves itself into creation before her. Sunflower petals interlace with stalks of wheat and flashes of red maple leaves, bound together with precision and care. The purple head of a crocus flower, the last of the year, or perhaps the first of the new, is the final piece added before the adornment floats toward Elsa’s head and settles atop her hair, as gentle as a mother’s hand.

Or a sister’s.

Recognition widens Elsa’s eyes and she whirls around, staggering upright on unsteady feet.

“Anna!?”

The desperation, the hope, rings out like glass on the brink of shattering. Anna feels her breath catch in her throat as her sister looks at her for the first time since the ice boat ferried her away down the side of a cliff. She reaches out like she did before, even takes a step forward.

Until she realizes Elsa’s eyes are still searching. Looking past her.

After a few moments where Elsa’s heart hammers in her chest and Anna’s tries to recall what that might be like, Elsa’s shoulders drop and it’s a folding, a shrinking, an inward sinking. She is smaller than Anna has ever seen her.

But...

Elsa takes the crocus flower from the crown, plucks a sunflower petal and a soft head of wheat, and with a careful weaving of her own she protects them in ice. Smaller, but no less special than the frozen star atop the Christmas tree years ago, and cradled with just as much care.

Elsa holds the creation to her chest and Anna feels Gale nestle around her shoulders.

Both sisters speak at the same time.

“Thank you. I love you. I miss you.”

#October Story Haul #guess that's what I'm calling it now #I want to do more of these so feel free to drop me a prompt: a word a lyric a sentence etc etc #anyway the idea kept me up the other night and I don't usually write angst so hopefully it pushes the right buttons #(and as you can see I couldn't even commit to 100% full on angst I had to make it at least a LITTLE hopeful xD)#I TRIED but... then I got too sad so y'know #anyway #jabs-wocks #I hope this fills whatever need you had xD #justlookatthosesausages #your posts are always so funny and when it's fandom-related it usually makes me think too xD #so here's to you two for no additional reason other than I really wanted to write something and you both gave me an excuse #cheers #Anna #Elsa #Kristoff #Sven #Olaf #Bruni #Nokk #Gale #tw: death #mourning #alternate F2 ending #alternate ending #Post Frozen 2 #Frozen 2 canon divergent #ghost #burying this in the tags so y'all can't spoil yourselves but so that people who have tags can still filter #my writing

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feistypaants-archived · 5 years ago

Text

Scene of Sentimentality

Rating: T Words: 2080 Pairing: Kristanna

Summary: Anna reflects on her ever growing feelings for Kristoff

[AO3]

Notes: Sometimes I get sad about how infrequent Anna’s feelings are shown in canon. So I wanted to write something small about her reflecting on her feelings for her fiancé. It means a lot to meeeeeee.

Enjoy!

Anna stood quietly, tapping her ring against the champagne flute in her hand, a soft smile playing at her lips as she watched her fiancé laughing at the edge of the ballroom. He had come to find his footing in these settings, even if he wasn’t the biggest fan of larger events, and Anna was more and more impressed with him each day.

Her coronation was the worst, Kristoff just standing by awkwardly as she could barely get a moment to say hello to him, much less get to help ease the tension for him. She hated knowing he was uncomfortable, hated knowing it was her fault that he was stuck in this situation. Anna knew that if he had the choice, Kristoff would much prefer to be in the mountains, but he loved her enough that he stayed with her, even if he hated it.

“Your Majesty?”

Her attention turned back to the dignitary from who knows where with whom she was speaking to before she got distracted.

“Oh, goodness, I’m sorry.” Anna lifted the glass to her lips, sipping lightly before covering her mouth with her hand. “You were saying?”

More than once, she was distracted by Kristoff. Something about him just fascinated her from day one, and when his gaze found hers through the large room of people, Anna felt her smile grow.

She remembered the first time it happened, after they fell two hundred feet off a cliff’s edge. After he lifted her out of the snow like she was nothing, after he looked at her and asked her what now? His deep honey eyes locked onto hers, and suddenly she was imagining his broad body hoisting her up and her whole face flushed as she remembered this is not the time, Anna!

And it happened again a couple of days later after he kissed her on the docks and turned her knees to jelly. She watched with pure adoration as he ran towards the sled, admiring all of its upgraded features. It was then that she knew she would do whatever it took to keep that big smile on his face.

Then he looked up at her, practically skipped back to where she was glued to the spot, and grabbed her hands.

Wanna go for a ride?

It was almost a childish glee that had taken over him, and Anna knew that the little flutter in her heart was real this time, not just desperation, and after their week together, she knew she could trust him not to break her.

She bit her lip before nodding enthusiastically, watching with interest as Kristoff hooked up Sven, and climbed up into the carriage as soon as he waved her on, his hands outstretched to help pull her up.

Where do you want to go?

Anna scooted a little closer, pretending to ignore the pink that had spread across both their cheeks. Anywhere, she smiled, before correcting herself. Everywhere. Then she grabbed his hand, lacing their fingers together. As long as you come with me.

He had let out a huff of a laugh before grabbing the reins with one hand and squeezing her fingers with the other.

Alright, Sven. Let’s take her highness anywhere and everywhere.

It became an everyday thing, her being distracted. She’d look at him across the table, across the room, across the courtyard, and her face would warm, a dopey smile pulling at her lips as he continued to do whatever he was doing. He didn’t even need to be doing anything special, really. Once she caught him just fixing his boots, sewing up a hole in the side, and just the pure reliability of it all made her fall even harder.

Maybe she knew how to be a royal, but it wasn’t until Kristoff was in her life that she learned more practical things - how to sew, how to start a fire, how to find her direction without a compass - and she was forever grateful for it.

Especially when…

Anna shook her head, not wanting to relive that.

She couldn’t bear being apart from him now, so she politely excused herself before crossing the floor with less grace than was expected of her, and practically threw herself at her fiancé, who, as always, was ready to catch her.

“Hi, baby,” he smiled, pressing his forehead against hers as her arms wrapped around his neck.

I love you, baby! Anna had felt the fondness spread across her features again, as he slid up to her, his bashfulness taking over. I do…

She loved him, too. So much, from day one. More each day, for always.

She lifted her hands to his cheeks, nuzzling her nose softly against his. “Hi, honey. I missed you.”

A woman beside them coughed loudly, rolling her eyes before walking away with a smile. They parted only slightly, his hands resting on her hips. “It’s barely been an hour,” he teased, placing on kiss against her palm as she stroked a gentle hand down his cheek.

“Yes but it’s our engagement announcement.” Anna clasped her hands together behind his neck. “I shouldn’t have to be away from you for even a minute.”

Kristoff rolled his eyes, but tightened his grip on her. “And her majesty should have whatever she so pleases, right?”

“As should my prince consort,” she hemmed, turning her nose up slightly in mock snobbery.

The first time they talked about their future, Anna had been so nervous that nervous was an understatement. They had been together for about eight months, and while everything was going so, so well, she knew that her lifestyle could be stifling, to put it mildly. Things had been better since the gates were opened, but for someone who lived a free life on the mountains…

Anna walked with him slowly up the stairs of the palace, their fingers interlaced as they climbed to their favorite spot on the roof. The way his hand squeezed hers gently, Anna knew he knew that this conversation might be a rough one, but they both held steady.

They sat, her curled up against his side, his fingers playing in her hair.

You know I love you, right? She had asked, her fingers playing with the hem of her skirts. I love you so, so much, and I can’t believe how lucky I am… and…

He had quieted her with a soft kiss, one arm pulling her closer to his side. I know, he had replied, kissing her again and again and again until tears started to fall down her cheeks. She just wanted him to be happy. She just wanted to be with him.

She was afraid those things wouldn’t align.

But he had tucked her up under his chin and told her that wherever she was, that’s where he wanted to be. Whether it was in a castle or in an abandoned barn… She was his home now.

Anna had cried more, kissed him again, and immediately commissioned them a cabin up in the secluded woods of the mountains. One that they spent many many days hiding in alone, showing one another just how in love they were.

Her cheeks reddened as his eyes tracked over her exposed skin, her low neckline exposing more of her than was usual for a royal, and she pressed an accusatory finger to the bottom of his chin. “Don’t look at me like that,” she protested, guiding his gaze elsewhere. “We have to stay until the end of this party.”

It wasn’t usually Kristoff who made them leave early, though, and his arched eyebrow told her that he was thinking exactly this.

She couldn’t help herself, though.

He always got dressed up for her, and that sacrifice alone was enough to make her want to get him undressed and comfortable again as quickly as possible. But he never had any objections anyway.

Dropping her hands to his lapels, Anna busied herself with straightening them as his arms tightened around her waist. “Thank you,” she sighed, finger scratching at a speck on the metal button of his coat, the same as the first time he had done this for her.

One hour, he had firmly stated, his expression smug. You get this for one hour.

Six hours, fifteen minutes, it was all the same to her. Kristoff had talked to the tailors to make him a suit that matched her gown, he had taken it into his own hands to do something so thoughtful, and Anna loved him even more that day, even if she hadn’t thought it possible.

He reluctantly agreed when the palace staff insisted he have a few more made, because the townspeople were truly head over heels for the complementary wardrobe, and Anna had made sure to properly thank him for it.

Kristoff never wanted this life, but he wanted her. If Anna had the choice, she’d probably leave it too, if he asked it of her. But he never would, because he knew she loved it - loved the camaraderie, the parties, the ability to help those who needed it - but she loved him more than all of that.

That frightened her, once.

A tap on her shoulder brought her back to reality. Kristoff’s hands had moved to rest protectively on her waist as another young prince from some other kingdom came to congratulate them.

He asked for a dance, and Anna graciously agreed even if she was rather annoyed to have to leave her fiancé again.

But the prince was kind. He enthusiastically congratulated her. Told her he had heard about what had happened with that prince from the Southern Isles - his reputation still not enough for other kingdoms to learn his name - and that he was happy she had found something real.

Anna smiled softly, looking over the prince’s shoulder to Kristoff, who was now leaning against the wall and watching her, a small flicker of jealousy in his eyes.

When they returned home and the highs and lows of their most recent adventure had worn back down to level ground, Kristoff had sat her down anxiously, rubbing his fingers over hers as he struggled to find his words.

I think, he stammered, twisting his mouth from side to side, that there’s probably someone else out there… more deserving of you and everything you have to offer…

Anna had immediately tightened her grip on his shaking hands.

And I understand that I’m just… some commoner who you happened to like and who really, really liked you.

She scooted closer, her knees brushing his as he did his best to get the rest of the words out.

I love you, more than anything. I always have, and I always will. And I think that’s important, right? His eyes had welled up, as had hers, as she crawled into his lap, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.

I just… I want to be right for you. I want to be everything you need me to be.

Anna had pressed a firm but chaste kiss to his lips, sighing through her nose as his arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer.

You already are, Kristoff, she mumbled against his mouth. You’re more than that.

He had kissed her senseless, then, more and more giving each time she whispered a soft I love you into his skin, burying herself even deeper into his heart.

With a small curtsey from her and a lower bow from the prince, Anna was determined to spend the rest of the night right by her fiancés side. Ignoring everyone else, she stepped up to his side, sighing with relief as his arm came around her shoulders and held her closer as he finished his conversation with someone she didn’t quite recognize.

When they left with another bow, Anna turned, wrapped her arms around Kristoff’s waist, and pressed her nose into his shoulder. “Hey,” she muttered, smiling as he waved off a concerned Kai. “I love you.”

The way he held her now, the way his fingers dug into her, she knew he wasn’t letting her leave his side even once more this evening.

She was completely fine with that.

Looking up at him, her eyes glimmered as he smiled down at her. “I can’t wait to marry you,” she whispered, meant only for them.

Kristoff kissed her forehead gently, and Anna knew, right here in his arms, was where she was meant to be for the rest of her life.

#kristanna #kristoff #anna #feistypantswrites #kristanna fanfic #kristanna fanfiction #canon

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unfragilelove · 5 years ago

Text

when all is lost, then all is found. (1/1)

This is the idea that’s been knocking around in my head and refusing to let me rest until I spat it out on paper. I hope you all enjoy. <3 (begins post-Frozen 1, and ends post-Frozen 2.)

Frohana/Kristanna || No warnings/rating || ao3 link

“If you don’t mind my asking, why did you travel with ice harvesters as a child? Why didn’t you live in an Arendelle orphanage?” Kristoff just shrugs. “Because there isn’t one.”

aka: The royal family establishes the first orphanage in Arendelle, and the children are not the only ones who find a home within it's walls.

Arendelle has always prided itself on being well-run kingdom, fortunate enough to have an abundance of resources, plenty of trade, a fairly stable economy, and residents who rarely disturb the peace.

Which is why it comes as such a shock to Anna and Elsa when, in a conversation with Kristoff, full of quiet admissions and tales of their childhood, the topic comes up:

“If you don’t mind my asking, why did you travel with ice harvesters as a child? Why didn’t you live in an Arendelle orphanage?”

Kristoff just shrugs. “Because there isn’t one.”

Anna’s jaw drops and Elsa looks a combination of surprised and uncomfortable, both of the women falling silent for several long moments, seemingly at a loss for words.

“There isn’t one?” Anna speaks up first, her voice incredulous, “Not anywhere in our entire kingdom?”

“No. But, to be fair, it’s not like there are a lot of displaced kids in Arendelle.”

“But when there are,” Anna says, her voice rising with her building emotions, “When it does come up, and there are parents who can’t take care of their baby, or a kid whose parents die,” Elsa and Kristoff both wince a bit at that, and the waver in Anna’s voice speaks for itself, “We don’t have anywhere for them to go?”

Kristoff presses his lips together in a tight frown, unable to find the words to ease her mind. Admittedly, it does bother him, too— the thought of other children growing up without homes, and perhaps not ending up as fortunate as he did. (Trolls they may be, but they’re his family, all the same.)

“I feel awful, for not even knowing.” Elsa says, her voice quiet and eyes pensive.

“Up until a few months ago, you two spent your entire lives inside the castle walls. It’s not your fault that you don’t know every inch of Arendelle yet.” Kristoff says, looking at the two downtrodden sisters, and hoping to assuage some of their guilt.

“But we can change that, right?” Anna asks, though her voice leaves little room for argument. “We could create a place where kids can be safe. Somewhere that they can stay until they find home and families, somewhere they don’t have to be alone anymore.”

None of them seem inclined to disagree.

It’s a fairly small thing, Arendelle’s Home for Children, but it’s plenty homey, with plush blankets on warm beds, and boxes full of toys, and a view of the fjord through the dining room window. It’s located right outside the castle gates, too, which makes overseeing the building process all the easier. (They all play a role in it’s creation, Kristoff helps with a lot of the hands-on work, Elsa oversees the plans, and Anna is the creative force behind it all, offering ideas and helping in any way she can.)

The demand for an orphanage was not immense, but it's a cause that proves itself more than necessary.

This rings particularly true, when it hasn't even been a week after they finish painting the outer walls, and they are approached by a woman, tears rolling down her face, a young toddler in her arms. A child that is not hers, but her brother’s, who went out for what was supposed to be a two-day trek into the mountains and failed to return alive, and she simply can’t raise the boy herself anymore, she’s sorry, so sorry--

(It isn't long at all before a couple-- two lovely women, both skilled blacksmiths-- tentatively come into the Home. They’ve wanted a child of their own for years now, and considering the way the couple’s eyes well up with tears when the two tiny hands reach up toward them, Anna, Elsa and Kristoff all have no doubt they made the right decision.)

As time passes, the amount of children in the Home ebbs and flows— thankfully, they’ve rarely had more than five residents at any given time, and in the two whole years since it’s been open, they’ve said tearful farewells to almost a dozen children who’ve found happy homes with new parents.

Turns out, there are kids in Arendelle who need a safe place to live, but there are also plenty of couples-- same-sex couples, or ones who cannot bear children, or individuals who simply want to adopt a child into their life-- who are equally grateful for the opportunity to expand their family.

It may be far from a lucrative business, but it’s brought them far more fulfillment than any amount of coin could.

When they first opened Arendelle’s Home for Children, Gerda had offered her assistance in running the place. Anna, who remembered how kind she was to her as a child, knew she’d be as good a fit as any. And now, coming up on two and a half years into the endeavor, it still rings true. However, while Gerda remains the primary live-in caretaker, the royal family’s presence has been far from absent.

Kristoff spends a fair amount of time down in the Home, often bringing Sven, who happily brays and lets the kids hang off his antlers, or ride on his back. He can’t help but talk for Sven, too, which almost always makes the younger children giggle and squeal in delight.

There’s one little girl there, Sylvi, with pale skin and tangled blonde hair, who mostly keeps to herself— she’s nonverbal, and hasn’t quite warmed up to any of them yet, curling away from any sort of physical contact.

(They’re not sure if she was born that way, or if it’s a coping mechanism, or some combination of both. They know next to nothing about her past, but they’ll do everything they can to ensure her a happy future.)

She still remains rather closed-off, despite being at the Home for a few months now. But then, on a crisp Spring morning, something incredible happens-- Kristoff breaks out in Sven’s voice, and Sylvi’s face lights up like a Christmas tree. She smiles-- the very first smile they’ve seen cross her face in all the time she’s been there-- and she wanders over to bury her hands happily in the thick texture of the reindeer’s fur. It’s the most progress they’ve seen her make thus far, and Kristoff has never felt prouder.

Meanwhile, Anna spends any free time she has at the Home, too-- enthusiastically telling the kids stories of her adventures, (usually with Olaf at her side, reenacting the scenes with equal enthusiasm.) And she’s almost always bringing the kids more toys. (“Your highness, how many times must I insist there are already too many toys to keep the place tidy!” “Oh, come on Gerda, how am I supposed to be considered a kind and generous princess if I don’t spoil my favorite little Arendellians! Plus, Kristoff and I already started building them bigger toy boxes, don’t worry.”)

There’s a boy there, Fredrik, with wild curly locks and a gap-toothed grin, who always runs and flings himself into Anna’s arms. He, too, always has a new story to tell— of he and the other kids playing pirates, or this baby rabbit he saw in the woods, or the way he swears there’s a sea monster in the fjord. Sometimes he’ll stop himself mid-sentence, as though realizing he’s rambling, and stumbles over an apology-- in a way that feels painfully familiar to Anna. But she’ll be damned if she makes a child feel any of the same inadequacy she did. With a shake of her head and a smile, she’ll urge him on, “Well, don’t leave me hanging! You’ve gotta tell me what happened next!”

The way his face always brightens in response is worth more than anything in the world.

Elsa stops by frequently, as well— though at first it had taken her a bit longer to get used to being around children, mostly due to the fear she still wasn’t fully in control of her powers. Once she had begun to visit, though, the children quickly grew on her, and she’ll often make them little flurries and piles of snow to play in during the hot summer months. There’s an older girl in her late teens, named Runa— who starts to sit next to Elsa while the younger children play. Runa is mostly blind, but she often requests little ice sculptures from Elsa, a smile always gracing her face as she runs her fingers along the frigid curves of each figurine. Of course, they have plenty of wooden toys that could serve the same purpose. So one day, Elsa can't help but to ask, “Doesn’t the cold bother you?”

Runa shrugs, “I’ve never minded it.”

Perhaps it’s not so much the ice figurines she enjoys, as much as it is the company and kindness of another.

Of course, all the children who have come into the Home hold special places in each of their hearts. It’s a complicated sort of love, as every farewell they have is a bittersweet one (it means they’ll see the child far less, if at all-- but it means they've found a real home, which is so, so good.)

And on a similar vein, every child they watch get passed up by potential families breaks their hearts.

It's Autumn when a lot changes in an incredibly short span of time. By the time the dust fully settles in Arendelle, Anna’s both engaged and coronated as Queen, Elsa lives in the Enchanted Forest with the Northuldra, and there’s an entire chunk of their kingdom’s history that needs retelling. For Anna, in particular, the queendom comes incredibly natural to her— but the journey it took to get there, the mass of secrets their family kept, holding Olaf as he perished, the gripping fear that she was truly alone , followed by nearly dying on the dam-- well, that all is a bit harder to come to terms with.

Eventually, though, things calm down enough for them to fall back in to a mostly normal routine, and they waste no time visiting the Home regularly once more. There, they find a couple new residents, and, unfortunately-- three familiar faces who’ve yet to find homes.

Sylvi, despite most families passing her by, makes great strides-- she warms up to Kristoff through her comfort around Sven, and begins to trust the sisters, too. Elsa, with her calm and composed demeanor, seems to put her at ease. And Anna, though far more excitable than her sister in nature, is always careful to not to overstimulate or stress the child out. Eventually, the first time Sylvi makes proper eye contact with someone is with Anna, her curious little eyes becoming absolutely fixated on the princess’s face as she tells her a story. The little one doesn’t even seem to realize she’s doing it, and yet it takes Anna all the willpower she can muster to stay focused on the tale she’s weaving, and not start to cry right then and there.

Fredrik, meanwhile, is a lovebug with just about everyone, as outgoing as ever and never seeming to run low on energy. He loves nature, always asking to ride Sven, or picking up little snails off the cobblestone path and moving them to safety, or doodling different plants he finds throughout the town. He can almost always be found running around playing with Olaf, or dragging the other children into games, or asking Kristoff and Anna to take him on hikes, or running headfirst into a snow pile Elsa made-- (to which she quickly has to add extra snow to cushion him from hitting the ground beneath, and dear gods , these children will never fail to keep their reflexes sharp.)

Elsa, although no longer living there, still visits Arendelle rather frequently. While it’s their family game night that keeps her coming back weekly, she makes time to visit the Home, as well. Despite it being a regular occurrence, Runa’s face never fails to light up when she hears Elsa’s voice. It always makes her heart feel full-- that is, until the day Gerda pulls her aside and shares that they haven’t had many potential adopters, lately, and those that do visit are almost never interested in Runa.

“Beyond being blind, she’s nearly an adult, in most people’s eyes.” Gerda tells her in a whisper, her voice thick with sadness. “And I fear she may not find a family before that day comes.”

It sticks with Elsa, the words ringing in her ears and refusing to grant her peace. She feels like it’s the siren’s call all over again, something nagging in the back of her mind, except instead of being mysterious and exciting, it’s an echo of a far more grim reality. She returns to the Enchanted Forest that night, and it’s several weeks before she visits the orphanage again.

“You came back!” Runa exclaims when she returns, “I was starting to think you forgot about me.”

“Quite the opposite, actually, I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately. There’s something I need to speak to you about.” A sharp breath, and then: “How would you feel about coming to live with me and the Northuldra?”

A few more months pass, and while the newest children have come and gone from their system in nearly record time, Sylvi and Fredrik still remain. It’s just the two of them in the Home now, and with the holidays only days away, it doesn’t appear they’ll find homes before the new year.

As a result, Kristoff and Anna, in addition to the time they spend with them during the day, have taken to inviting the kids for dinner with them in the castle, most nights. (“They deserve to eat in a proper home, you know?” “Of course, and I’m sure Gerda will enjoy having the afternoon off--” “Right, and Fredrik didn’t get a chance to finish telling us about how he saved that baby bird!”

“And really, no child deserves to feel alone this time of year.”)

It’s not the first time they’ve all eaten in the castle together, but there’s something about the way Sylvi erupts into a fit of loud giggles when Fredrik puts a carrot up his nose to imitate Olaf, or the way Kristoff feigns shock to amuse the kids each time he looks away only to find more and more brussel sprouts being snuck onto his plate, or the way Fredrik, with a belly already full of hearty food, looks at the dessert tray being brought in and says, “Man, I love you guys.”

The moments are happy ones, and yet Anna’s chest aches while watching how well these two children seem to settle into their everyday life. The Home would continue to keep them safe and comfortable, yes, but it’s still not… well, a home .

The short trek back to the orphanage that night is a heavy one, as they know the kids need to be back in their own beds, but find that it’s getting harder and harder to say goodbye each time. Sylvi tucks her nose into the crook of Anna’s neck as she carries her, no longer terrified of touch as she once was (at least, not from Kristoff and Anna.) And Fredrik sits on Kristoff’s shoulders, his boundless energy finally waning as his eyes droop closed.

They tuck them in and say their goodnights, returning home to a castle that suddenly feels far too empty.

It’s only a few hours later, when Kristoff and Anna decide to retire to their room for the night. The two of them are quietly getting ready for bed when Kristoff speaks up, his voice tentative.

“Anna, do you, uh-- do you still want to have kids?”

“I do. Why? Wait, are you having second thoughts—“

“No, no, definitely not! I still do too. I really do.”

Anna watches him, her fingers playing absent-mindedly with his hair as she waits patiently for him to get to the point he’s clearly trying to build toward. He takes a deep breath, and then:

“Do you want only... biological children?”

Her heart swells as it occurs to her where he’s heading with this, and she wonders how she got so lucky, to find someone whose soul aligns so perfectly with her own.

“Not at all," Anna says, and oh, she can already feel the tears building in her eyes, "I’d be happy raising a child with you, however they come into our life.”

“So say there was a boy with curly hair and a kind heart, as feisty as you, to slide down the bannisters with--”

“Or maybe a little blonde like you, who trusts us more than anyone, quiet but brave as can be, who comes out of her shell more and more every day--”

“Or both?” He asks with a sheepish, yet oh-so radiant grin, and Anna mirrors it tenfold.

“Yeah. Both sounds good to me.”

#kristanna fanfic #frohana #kristanna #kristana ff #kristanna fic #(sort of au sort of canonverse idk idk)#kristanna au #frozen #frozen 2 #kristanna fanfiction #frohana fic #adoption fic #my fic

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swanqueeneverafter · 4 years ago

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Sins of the Past Pt.15

Camelot. Throne Room. (Lancelot is escorted into the room by Morgana's men. Morgana is seated on the throne with Morgause standing to her right. Lancelot is thrown to the floor.) Morgana: "Tell me, Sir Lancelot, are you and your fellow knights ready to honour and serve me? Speak up." Lancelot: "I would rather die." Morgause: "That can be arranged." Lancelot: "My loyalty is to the true Queen of Camelot, Guinevere. There is nothing you can do to change that." Morgana: "We shall see. They tell me you were with Arthur when he recaptured the Jabberwocky. There are rumours that you were the one who swung the Vorpal Blade that left her pinned to the wall for many years. Your mother, the Lady of the Lake, she forged that blade, didn't she? (Lancelot merely nods:) It was for this heroic act that Arthur awarded you the honour of the Siege Perilous, correct? (Lancelot says nothing. Leaning forward:) We both know what a snake Arthur turned out to be, but are you aware of just how he came to power?"

Camelot. Past. Uther's Chambers. (Moments after leaving Arthur's side to protect the King, Guinevere arrives outside Uther's chambers. Hearing voices, Guinevere draws her sword and inches open the door to peer inside.) Jabberwocky: (Standing before an unarmed Uther:) “What are you afraid of, Uther?” Uther: (Defiantly:) “I'm not afraid of anything.” Jabberwocky: “Not even... (Reads his mind:) the feeling of smoke... filling your lungs? (Walks behind him:) The fire burning all around you... out of control. (Uther’s eyes widen and he begins gasping for breath:) The feeling that there's nothing you can do to save yourself. (Uther blinks rapidly:) That you... are... powerless. (Uther gasps loudly, coughing:) And you don't know what burns you more... the secret you’ve been keeping inside you all these years... (Kneels beneath Uther as he’s bent over:) ...that the orphan boy, Arthur, the one you tried to drown, is your son. A constant reminder of your betrayal of Ygraine... (Whispers:) or is it the lack of oxygen... in your lungs?” (Uther collapses to the floor. Standing, the Jabberwocky turns and leaves the room, her task complete. While still trying to process what she’s overheard, Guinevere rushes to Uther’s side, looking for any signs of life, but finding none.)

Camelot. Present. Throne Room. (Morgana continues her tale.) Morgana: "As the battle raged on, Arthur fought his way to me. I thought to protect me, but I was gravely mistaken." Camelot. Past. Council Chamber. (Arthur fights two of Cenred's men, knocking them backwards before ushering Morgana into the room. Barring the door, Arthur turns his attention to Morgana.) Arthur: "Those soldiers, it's like they're protected somehow. Everything we throw at them just bounces off." Morgana: "What can we do?" Arthur: "We have to destroy the source of the magic." Morgana: "Which is?" Arthur: (Hesitates:) "I don't know." Morgana: "Our only chance is to get out of Camelot." Arthur: "No, it's too late for that. I need to think. Here. (Arthur hands Morgana a water skin:) Have some water." Morgana: "I'm not thirsty." Arthur: "No, I mean you have some before I finish it." Morgana: (Nods:) "Thank you." (Morgana drinks. Almost immediately she begins to have trouble breathing. Morgana looks at the skin and then at Arthur. Arthur wipes his mouth and then turns to face her.) Arthur: “Forgive me. I had to save Camelot." Castle Corridor. (In the midst of the fighting, Morgause senses something is wrong.) Council Chamber. (Arthur tries to hold Morgana as she struggles to breathe.) Arthur: “I give you my word, as King, I shall restore honour to the name Pendragon. (Morgana’s eyes widen at this and tries to fight him off:) Yes, I am your brother. (Stands:) I’ve known for some time.” Castle Corridor. (Morgause begins to hold her throat like Morgana.) Council Chamber. (Blowing the council chamber door open, Morgause rushes to Morgana, taking her in her arms.) Morgause: (Stroking Morgana’s face:) “What has he done to you?” Arthur: “I had to.” Morgause: (Morgana lays unconscious in her arms:) “You poisoned her!” Arthur: “You gave me no choice.” Morgause: “Tell me what you used and I can save her.” Arthur: “First, stop the attack!” Morgause: “You’re nothing but a simple soldier! You don’t tell me what to do!” Arthur: “If you want to know what poison it is, you will undo the magic that protects Cenred and his men!” Morgause: “Tell me the poison or you’ll die!” Arthur: “Then she’ll die with me. I don’t want this any more than you, but you give me no choice. Stop the attack and you can save her.” Morgause: (With tears in her eyes, lifts the enchantment:) “Astýre ús þanonweard! Cnihtas Medhires, éower sáwla. Rid eft ond forsliehð eft.” Castle Corridor. (The knights blows begin to take effect on Cenred’s soldiers. An overly confident Cenred allows a knight to take a strike at him and is slashed through the heart. With a shocked look upon his face, Cenred falls dead to the floor.) Council Chamber. (Arthur hands Morgause the hemlock bottle. Guinevere and the knights burst into the room.) Guinevere: “Morgana!” Morgause: “Keep away from her! (Rocking Morgana in her arms, Morgause begins to chant:) Bedyrne ús! Astýre ús þanonweard!” (Morgause and Morgana disappear in a windy cloud of smoke.) Camelot. Present. Throne Room. (Morgana continues.) Morgana: "And for ten long years, that was the last time anyone heard from Morgana Pendragon, the true Queen of Camelot. Now I am back to claim my rightful place. (Tilting her head:) Guin has already accepted her part in Arthur's betrayal. It was from her store cupboard that my bastard brother stole the hemlock. She would see me take my birthright, so why not you, Lancelot?" Lancelot: (Looks to her and smiles:) "Long live Queen Guinevere!" (Motioning to her guards, Morgana watches with interest as Lancelot is taken back to the dungeons.)

Neverland. Night. (Regina, Emma and Tiger Lily are escorted to the beach while the Lost Boys dance, holler and bang drums around the fire.) Regina: (Sighs:) “Why is it never past their bedtime?” Lost Boy 1: “For your crimes against Pan, the Lost Boys sentence you to death.” (He points towards several stakes lining the beach. Before they can make good on their threat however, a bright light blinds the Lost Boys momentarily as a large door materialises on the beach.) Emma: “Regina, it’s the door from the Sorcerer’s mansion!” Regina: “We’ve got to go!” (Using the distraction to their advantage, they run towards the door, carrying Maria between them. Emma stops, turning to see Tiger Lily escape her guards.) Tiger Lily: “Run. Now!” (Amidst the confusion, they manage to run through the door, leaving the feral Lost Boys behind them.) Storybrooke. Sorcerer's Mansion. (Stepping through the door, Emma is just able to see Hook, Anna, Kristoff and Rumplestiltskin standing there before she is enveloped in a hug by Elsa.) Elsa: "Thank goodness we found you!"

(Anxiously watching Regina's reaction to this display, Anna steps in.) Anna: (Gently pulling Elsa away from Emma, smiles at Regina:) "It's been an emotional day." Hook: "Swan, Lily's been kidnapped." Emma: "What?" Anna: "And we think Maleficent's missing too, although we don't know for sure. I mean we do know she's not been seen for awhile but-" Rumplestiltskin: (Cutting her off:) "Belle and the others have been rounded up by the new regime in Camelot. If we had everyone who fought with us in the Dream World, we'd still not have enough fire power to defeat Morgana's army." Tiger Lily: (Making her presence known for the first time:) "Even if you had, Morgause's magic is powerful. Perhaps more so than yours at the height of your reign as the Dark One." (Rumplestiltskin is unnerved by the sight of his former godmother.) Elsa: "Which is why we came to find you. I don't know if Lily and Maleficent's disappearances are linked to all of this, but if they are..." Emma: (Looking to Regina:) "We're the only ones capable of breaching their defenses."

Camelot. Dungeons. (Lancelot is being escorted to the cells by four guards.) Belle: (Stepping out from a side passageway:) "Oh, boys?" (The guards and Lancelot turn to face her, Lancelot smiles.) Guard 1: "Oi, how'd you get out?" (Belle blows them a kiss and runs back down the passageway. Two guards chase after her, which allows Lancelot to make quick work of the remaining guards, collecting their swords along the way.) Passageway. (Belle sprints down the passage with the two guards hot on her heels. Running through one gate and then another, Belle sets the trap.) Belle: "Now!" (Before the guards can reach the second gate, Merida closes the door behind Belle, locking it. When the guards try to backtrack through the first gate, Xena and Gabrielle appear, locking that door.) Xena: "Sorry, boys, but you don't spend time around Autolycus, King of Thieves, without picking up a few things." Merida: "Stay there and don't move, eh?" (Merida, Belle, Xena and Gabrielle run back to join Lancelot who is now surrounded by guards. A fight breaks out and Xena, Gabrielle and Merida each quickly disarm a guard each, taking their swords. Lancelot sees a set of keys on the table and throws them to the imprisoned knights before handing one of his swords to Belle.) Xena: (Twirling her sword:) "Now this is what I call a good time!" Wonderland. Grendel's House. (Ella and Will continue trying to free themselves of their bonds.) Ella: “He's out chopping wood. He'll be back any second.” Will: “Don't panic. I've been in worse binds than this. (Attempts to break the ropes by brute strength, but fails:) Well, equivalent binds. (Ella finally frees herself:) How the bloody hell did you do that?” Ella: “Patience and persistence. (Ella unties Will’s hands and they both set to work untying their feet:) Hurry. (Ella heads for the door but notices that Will hasn’t moved:) What are you doing?” Will: “I ain't leaving without that knot.” Ella: “Will...” Will: “I made the deal with the Caterpillar. It's my bloody head on the line.” Ella: “It'll be both our heads if we don't get out of here. Come on!” (Ella tries the lock but it won’t budge. Suddenly an axe is hurled at the door by the Grendel.) Will: (Sarcastically:) “Whenever you're ready, Ella. No hurry.”

(With Will’s help, they finally manage to open the door to find a large beast waiting for them outside. Quickly closing the door, they back away.) Ella: “What in the hell is that thing?” Will: “It's a Bandersnatch.” Ella: “What's it doing here?” Will: “It’s popped round for tea - obviously! How the bloody hell should I know?” Ella: (Glancing over at the knot:) “Come on. I have a plan!” (While they head towards the knot, the Grendel picks up a knife and heads for the door. The Bandersnatch breaks through the door, sending the Grendel flying into the wall, knocking him unconscious. Snorting and snarling, the Bandersnatch tears through the house, climbing onto the dining table where it sees Will and Ella through the knot, crouching on the floor.) Will: (Standing beside Ella by the window:) “He bought it. (The beast roars and sticks its head through the knot:) Now! (Ella pulls on the rope, hauling the Bandersnatch up into the air:) You did it!” Ella: (Struggling:) “Not yet! (The animal kicks and screams, protesting its capture, Will holding Ella around the waist to keep her feet on the ground. Suddenly Will releases her, running into the other room:) Where are you going?!” (The Bandersnatch continues to flail around, Ella trying desperately to keep hold of the rope. Just as it turns its attention to Ella, the Grendel enters the room and charges. The Bandersnatch knocks him down again, roaring in Grendel’s face and is about to take a bite out of him when Will re-enters the room with a knife, stabbing the beast. With a final roar, the Bandersnatch disintegrates before their very eyes.) Will: (Helps Ella to her feet:) “How did you know that thing would fall for your trap?” Ella: “I didn’t.” Will: “Charming!” (Behind them, the Grendel stands.) Grendel: "You saved me. Thank you.” Will: “Yeah. Well, bygones and all that. (The Grendel walks towards the Forget-Me-Knot:) So that means we're square, right? Off the dinner menu?” Grendel: (Holding up the knot, stares into it sadly:) “She's gone.” Ella: “Who was she?” Grendel: “My wife. I lost her long ago.” Ella: “I'm sorry.” Grendel: “I thought I would die of heartbreak. But then I heard of this object and I stole it from she who owned it, and brought it here.” Will: “The Forget-Me-Knot.” Grendel: “That night, two things happened. I saw my wife alive again. But for my crime, she turned me into this.” Will: “Someone destroyed your life?” Grendel: “Yes. But I had no choice.” Will: “You did what you had to do to be with the woman you loved. There's no crime in that. The only crime is what she did to you.” Grendel: “Take it. It holds no value for me now.” Ella: “Thank you.” Grendel: “I hope it brings you what you desire.” (The Grendel walks away sadly, Ella and Will watching him go.) Storybrooke. Past. Regina's Vault. (During the period of time when the town was surrounded by a large ice wall and the Snow Queen is on the loose, Regina and Emma try to discuss the real problem at hand.) Emma: "For the last time, I don't have feelings for Elsa!" Regina: (Scoffs:) "Yeah, right." Emma: "Look, the only possible thing between me and Elsa is the connection to the Snow Queen. Ingrid seems to believe that Elsa and I are her long lost sisters or something." Regina: "You're spending an awful lot of time together."

Emma: "Time you could be spending with me, if you weren't so caught up trying to find this so-called Author of yours." Regina: "You mean spend time at the station with you, the Ice Princess and the Handless Wonder?" Emma: (Rolls her eyes:) "So we're back to Hook? I'm not even going to dignify that one. Hook and I are friends, just like Elsa. Elsa is trying to find her sister, just like Hook is trying to find his child. (Softer, walking closer to Regina:) There is nothing going on between me and either of them. How could there be when I am so, completely in love with you?" Regina: (Putting her book down:) "And you don't find either of them attractive?" Emma: (Scoffs:) "I couldn't possibly find Hook as attractive as Hook finds himself. And me and Elsa? Two blondes don't make a right. Besides, Elsa is far too... happy for me. She sees the world in a completely different way than I do. Than you and I do." Regina: "Yeah?" Emma: "Oh yeah. She's far too innocent for me. I prefer a little darkness. (Puts an arm around Regina's waist:) And you know I love how that darkness tastes." (Emma pulls Regina for a kiss, which the brunette readily returns. Before it can turn into anything more however, Regina pulls away.) Regina: "Mm, we can't. (Resting her forehead on Emma's:) We both have full mornings and we have to pick up your brother from that god-awful Mommy and Me class." Emma: (Nods:) "Okay. (With one last kiss, they part. Emma stepping aside so Regina can leave. Watching Regina run a hand through her hair as she walks:) Mm, girl. You know I hate to see you go, but I love to watch you leave." Regina: (Chuckles:) "Idiot. Just don't be late." Camelot. Present. Morgana’s Chambers. (Morgana stares out of her window with a thoughtful expression.) Morgana: “I’m beginning to see the challenges that I face. Being queen is not so simple, Guin.” Guinevere: “You’re doing well, your Majesty.” Morgana: “You think? The knights do not share your view.” Guinevere: “They don’t know you.” Morgana: (Turns to her:) “I need their allegiance. Without that, the people will not yield to me.” Guinevere: “They all look to Lancelot and he will always be loyal to me. I could talk to him, try to make him see sense?” Morgana: “You would do that for me?” Guinevere: “Uther killed my father and Arthur kept me by his side through magical enchantment for years.” Morgana: “Yes, I…forgot you too had suffered.” Guinevere: “Let me meet with Lancelot. I believe that we would all work very well together.” Morgana: “I will arrange it.” Guinevere: (Curtseys:) “Thank you, your Majesty.” (Morgana smiles as Guinevere leaves the room.)

#sq #swan queen #swanqueen

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valiant-reindeer-queen · 5 years ago

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When All Is Lost, Then All Is Found (Chapter 5)

Rating: K Words: 2,807 Pairing: Kristanna Summary: Kristoff receives a head injury after coming home from ice harvesting and suffers from amnesia, leaving Anna to deal with the fear she never wanted to face. Anna learns to cope through yet another difficult circumstance, and Kristoff learns to see things through Anna’s eyes.

Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 Chapter Summary: After an uneventful interaction with Anna, the Doctor and Elsa help Kristoff to deal with the confusion and guilt he’s starting to feel.

Notes: No, I can’t draw hands for the life of me, and yes, this does look sloppy, but I drew this in like 15 minutes at 1 in the morning on my phone. I was planning on drawing something for each chapter but I got lazy. I drew something for this chapter though because I felt this was a pretty significant moment that needed to be portrayed. Anyway, enjoy!

Kristoff paced about the room. He was anxious, torn between his own feelings. He couldn’t stop thinking about Anna and how apparent it was that she was hurt. He walked over to the window and stared out over the Kingdom of Arendelle, hoping to feel the same way he did that morning. Suddenly that feeling of wanting to leave wasn’t so strong anymore.

Within the castle, the guard who had spoken with Anna earlier at the gates was looking everywhere for Elsa. He finally came across a lady who knew where she was, sending him to the queen’s office. Once he arrived, he knocked on the door.

Elsa glanced up from her writing at the sound of the knock.

“Come in.” she said.

The guard opened the door slowly with a troubled look on his face.

“Anders, what’s wrong?” Elsa said a bit worried.

“It’s Anna, last I saw her she looked rather upset. Perhaps I’m overreacting but...I think she may need you.”

“Oh no...” Elsa said as she sprang up from her chair rushing out of the room, thanking Anders briefly. She could only assume what must’ve happened.

Meanwhile, Kristoff had crawled back into bed. His arm was draped over his eyes, replaying recent events. After some time he heard a knock at the door.

“Come in!” he said in an anxious rush, almost hoping it was Anna. The doors opened to reveal Doctor Kjellberg.

“Hello, Kristoff.” He said with a warm smile.

“Oh,” Kristoff said disappointedly. “hello.”

“I heard you tried to take a holiday.”

Kristoff rolled his eyes, “Don’t remind me.” he grumbled.

The doctor sighed. “Why did you try to leave, son?”

Kristoff ran his hands through his hair as he groaned sharply. “I don’t know! Okay?!” he said as his volume increased. “None of this feels right to me, yet, what doesn’t seem right actually is right! And I’m not okay with that! I want things to be the way they were, but now I have to accept things the way they are!” He took a deep breath in and then breathed out a sigh, “Why does it all feel so wrong if it’s right?”

Doctor Kjellberg looked at him with understanding. “Well, I can assure you, everything you’re feeling is normal.”

“Normal?” Kristoff let out a sardonic laugh. “How is this normal?”

The doctor sat at the chair near his bedside. “Before I try to explain, am I correct in assuming that you now accept your current circumstances?”

“Yes.” Kristoff breathed.

“Think of it this way,” he resumed, “a child may hate a certain type of food one day, but the very next day that same food is now his favorite. Why? Because the child grew; and with growth comes change. The point is, we never stop growing, Kristoff. And it just so happens, you’ve forgotten the past few years that you’ve grown, that you’ve changed. That’s why you feel the way you do.”

Kristoff looked at him intently, understanding a bit better now. “What do I have to do then?”

The doctor smiled. “Be patient with yourself. I know it’s difficult, but it will get easier with time.”

Kristoff’s brows drew together, his mind all over the place.

“Well, I have a few more house calls I need to make before I come back here tonight. How is your pain level, do you need some medication before I leave?”

“No, I’m good.” Kristoff said, looking discouraged; the doctor noticed.

“The nurse is in the next room on standby, so if you do need anything just ring the bell.” He sat up, heading toward the doors. Before leaving he said to Kristoff: “Might I suggest a stroll about the castle? I know you’ve had your fair share of exercise for the day but it may help. Walking relieves stress.”

Kristoff glanced up, hardly giving him a smile. “Thank you.” he said.

The doctor smiled back and shut the doors. Kristoff sat up in bed contemplating everything the doctor told him. He eventually got out of bed and put on a robe. Taking the doctor’s advice he left the room and decided to walk about the castle. He barely took a few steps when he heard crying coming from one of the rooms. He moved closer toward the door; it sounded like Anna! He heard another young woman talking to her, a voice he didn’t recognize.

“Anna, everything will turn out all right, I promise.” Elsa said gently.

“I ruined everything, Elsa! I did exactly what I didn’t want to do, I let my emotions get in the way!” Anna said while crying, sadness and frustration came across as she talked to Elsa.

“You did absolutely nothing wrong, it’s okay.”

“No, it’s not okay! He hates me!”

Kristoff rubbed the back of his neck starting to feel bad as he listened outside the door.

“He does not, Anna! Remember what the doctor said? He said not to take anything he says personally.”

“Well it’s hard not to when it’s your own husband saying such hurtful things!”

“I know, and I’m not disregarding your feelings, but at least you still have him. Anna, we almost lost him the other night. He may not remember anything right now but he’s still your Kristoff.”

“And I should be thankful for that. But the truth is, I feel like I did lose him. He may still be here, but he’s not Kristoff. I lost my Kristoff!” Tears gushed again as she finished.

Hearing Anna’s words through the door pained Kristoff; Sadness suddenly clouded his features at the end of her last sentence.

“He’s there, Anna, I know he is. Just be patient, okay?”

Anna only sniffled while tears continued to stream down her cheeks, she nestled herself in Elsa’s arms, not saying a word. Elsa felt uneasy at her lack of response. This was unlike Anna not to agree with a comment of positivity, even at her lowest of points. She was determined to make Anna’s situation better, but how she was going to do so would have to wait until her sister fell asleep.

The silence remained, Kristoff waited for another while to see if any more words would be spoken but there was nothing. He sighed putting his hands in his pockets, deciding to continue on with his stroll.

He looked around at the details, the vastness of all that was around him. He walked past many rooms, and came across one that was open; one with many portraits. He went inside and saw a row of portraits of himself and Anna; the first few included Sven, Olaf, and Elsa. ‘Must be her sister.’ He thought to himself upon seeing Elsa next to Anna. He still wasn’t quite sure what that white blob was. As he continued down the row of portraits, he noticed how he progressively looked more comfortable in each portrait, making him think about what the doctor said about growth and change. He didn’t realize a smile had crept at the corner of his mouth as he looked at all the smiling faces; he continued on to the next portrait of just him and Anna. His smile slowly disappeared as he thought back to the hurt expressions shown on her face, the crying he had just heard. Thinking more on it only made the guilt tingle up his heart. Maybe the next painting would get his mind off of it. The next one was another portrait of just him and her; He was dressed in a blue suit, standing straight and proper, and she was wearing an elegant dress fit for a queen. He moved closer to the painting, examining Anna. He never really got a chance to look at her well enough with all that was going on. She was gorgeous, from her hair to her striking blue eyes. Her image captivated him, moving him to take an action that he himself was unawares of making: He outstretched his left hand to the portrait, for what reason, he didn’t know, but whatever he was feeling was strong; there were no memories, just unexplained feelings. The shimmer of his wedding ring caught his eye. He stared at it for a while before gazing back up to stare at Anna. He was entranced by this woman. ‘How did you end up with someone like me.’ He thought to himself as he took a seat at the bench just behind him, taking it all in. His mind searched for answers but to no avail, everything was clouded.

He sat there for hours trying to piece everything together, but he just couldn’t. Eventually, he walked back to his room slightly hunched over, feeling all sorts of things he was unsure of.

Even lying in bed, he stared at the ceiling, getting nowhere with his thoughts. It felt as if time had froze. The doctor came and went; medicine was taken for pain; a tray of food came and was hardly touched; All of it was clouded by her image. Before he knew it, nighttime had fallen.

To Kristoff’s surprise, a knock was heard at the door that made him jump a little.

“Come in.” he said quietly. Was it Anna?

The doors opened, revealing a woman with platinum blonde hair. The same woman he saw in the family portraits.

“Hello.” she said softly.

“Hello.” Kristoff said as he sat up in bed.

Elsa took a few steps forward. “I’m Elsa, Anna’s sister.”

“I kind of figured.”

Elsa gave a small smile. “The reason for my being here is about, Anna. I thought maybe we could talk.”

Kristoff saw the serious look on her face that drove him out of bed, he stood in front of her out of respect. He bowed his head signaling her to continue.

She looked down for a brief moment to gather her thoughts, “I want to talk to you about today...how you treated, Anna.” she said looking up at him with almost intimidating eyes.

Kristoff swallowed, feeling guilty again. He knew Elsa must have heard a detailed description of what happened based on the little he heard from behind the door.

She turned away from his view pacing nervously, “Now... Anna—she’s very sensitive, and this hasn’t been easy for her to say the least. And I really don’t think it would inconvenience you to treat her with some kindness.”

Kristoff looked away—every breath becoming shorter and faster because of the increasing anxiety he felt. He was angry at himself for treating Anna the way that he did, causing him to lash out. “I didn’t want to treat her like that, okay?! It’s just-” His head went back as his hands intertwined behind his neck, “I’m going through a lot right now! You don’t understand how hard this has been for me...I woke up one day and my whole world changed! I-”

“Anna is going through same thing!”

Kristoff stopped mid-sentence. “Wait...what?” he said shaking his head, looking confused.

“Your wife, Anna, woke up one day to find that her whole world changed as well. You’ve always been there for her and this is the first time she’s had to deal with something difficult without you!”

Kristoff’s features softened, he knew Anna was going through a lot but he hadn’t thought about that. He blinked and turned his head slightly so as to not make eye contact with her, crossing his arms. “S-she has you though. And you’re her sister.”

“And you’re her husband!”

He turned back to look at her.

“You are her husband, who she has spent every single day and every single night with for the past year now. And during those days and nights she’s had you there to help her through any difficult circumstance, not to mention the years before you two were married, when you were there as much as you could be! For the past few years she’s known that, she’s gotten used to that, and overnight all of that changed for her...”

Kristoff’s expression softened once more, he was upset because he felt as if he lost his cabin and the modest lifestyle he shared with Sven. But this—this was different. She felt as if she lost someone, not something. She felt as though she lost the one who she fell in love with, grew with, became one with. He couldn’t imagine what she must be going through.

“There’s something I need you to realize,” Elsa continued, after receiving no response from Kristoff. “Anna is going through a lot right now...and not just now, she’s been through a lot her entire life! And for someone like that, they need someone there to help them through it all; I was able to help some, but once you became a part of her life everything changed. She wasn’t scared of the past anymore. Whenever she felt scared, you were there for her, you were her true safe place she could run to. And for the first time in a very long time, she doesn’t have that-” Elsa choked up, trying to prevent the tears. “She doesn’t have you. Yes, I’ve been of some comfort to her but it’s not enough. She usually always has a flicker of hope even in the worst of times, but today, I felt like I saw that light go out.” Elsa couldn’t hold it in anymore, the next time she blinked the tears came streaming down her cheeks. “Please... I just want you to do this one simple thing: At least have the decency to show Anna the same level of respect that she’s been showing to you right now during this time.”

Kristoff’s eyes welled up with tears. He was unable to speak, he just nodded.

“I don’t think you understand just how much she loves, and respects you,” Elsa continued, wanting to make her point clear. “You don’t even know about the little things she’s done for you!” She started to pace about after every sentence again. “This isn’t just your room, it’s Anna’s room too! It’s both yours and hers. And she has had every right to sleep beside you these past few nights but she hasn’t, because she doesn’t want you to feel uncomfortable! And she wanted to see you the day after your accident but she didn’t, because she was afraid she would cry in front of you making you feel uncomfortable! She also wanted to make sure you had a full day of rest too!”

Kristoff mouth was agape. He was speechless and his breathing grew heavier, “I’m sorry.” he said as his voice cracked. “I really am, I’m so sorry.” As hard as he tried, he couldn’t hold in his own tears, they started streaming down his cheeks.

Elsa sighed, feeling bad and wondering if she was too hard on him. But at the same time she was glad to see the Kristoff she knew showing some genuine emotions. “I know you are, but don’t tell me, tell Anna.” she said.

“Is she awake?” He asked sniffling.

“No, she’s asleep.”

“When can I talk to her?”

“Tomorrow morning. I’ll be leaving the room at around 8:30. She usually gets up once I do so she should still be there by that time.”

“Okay.” Was all he was going to say at first, “But... after the way I treated her, what if she doesn’t want to see me?”

Elsa smiled. “She loves you Kristoff. It will all work out.”

Kristoff nodded once, hoping she was right.

Elsa looked down. “I should probably let you rest then.” She said as she turned making her way toward the doors.

“Elsa,” Kristoff said.

She turned around.

“Thank you.”

She smiled. “Thank you for being understanding.”

Kristoff smiled back.

“Goodnight, Kristoff.” She said, closing the doors.

“Goodnight.”

As the doors closed he stood in place for a while before getting back into bed. It was back to staring at the ceiling again, this time trying to think of how he was going to apologize to Anna tomorrow.

Hearing more about Anna made him realize even more that she was no ordinary woman, she was extraordinary.

“Wow.” He said out loud.

Kristoff was amazed, the thought of wanting to leave had completely left him. All he wanted to do now is remember.

‘I want to get this right’

The thoughts continued to run through his head before he tired out and fell asleep.

Elsa was still awake, and Anna was still thankfully asleep, tossing and turning while drooling.

Elsa smiled. “You were right, Anna.” She said quietly, remembering what her sister had said earlier. “Something good did happen today, progress was made.” Elsa cozied up to her pillow closing her eyes. Anna had no idea what was in store tomorrow.

#kristanna #kristanna fanfic #frozen #frozen 2

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the-honey-bear · 5 years ago

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The Fifth

Title: The Fifth

Pairing: Elsa/Anna, past Anna/Kristoff

Summary:

“We have many lives to live,” Elsa tells her. “It’s okay to pass the baton.”

Elsa’s eyes are as clear as Ahtohallan, and in them Anna feels the call of those waters.'

A bridge has two sides, and both Elsa and Anna have kept up their ends for a long, long time.

Read below or on AO3:

Black lace and silk, Anna covers her face. It would feel cruel and unnatural to display her youth-- face as fresh and vital as it was on her 21st birthday-- when Kristoff’s own has been eroded and worn away by the years. Lucky me, he’d say, when she pecked his wrinkled cheek-- yet it feels less like luck, but destiny, as fierce and unforgiving as the glacier rivers that sweep down from the mountain springs.

It’s been fifty years since Anna walked down this very chapel aisle in a wedding dress. Today, they bring her husband out in a casket. The black lace was a good idea; she does not need to still her tears. Her daughter, her son and his children stand by her side: she has to be strong for them. Anna puts a hand around her granddaughter as she hiccoughs a sob. That same dull ache in her chest: the fear that one day, it’ll be her funeral Anna wears black lace for, for her daughter, and her daughter after that.

She feels Elsa’s presence before she feels her hand, slipping into Anna’s own. Her other half; the other side of the bridge.

Elsa always knows what to say. She doesn’t tell Anna it’ll be okay, or that Kristoff was a good man, or any other useless, pretty things. She instead says, “I’ll always be here,” punctuating it with a firm squeeze of her hand. You can feel her heartbeat through her palm.

She is a balm to the terrors of your immortality, soothing the loneliness that looms in the future, as time picks away at those you love.

“I know, Elsa,” Anna says.

“You’ve done your duty here, you know,” Elsa says.

Anna squeezes a smile. “Thought the job was for life?”

“We have many lives to live,” Elsa tells her. “It’s okay to pass the baton.”

Elsa’s eyes are as clear as Ahtohallan, and in them Anna feels the call of those waters. Tides drawn to the moon, her sister has her own gravity. She casts her own light. She asks a question without speaking the words.

It takes physical effort for Anna to pull away from that gravity. “I can’t,” she says. “Not yet, anyway.”

Arendelle needs her; as do her children, and their children too. Time marches on without kindness, as a new century dawns, promising progress, new invention, new danger. Olaf leaves Arendelle, moving into the ice palace on the mountain.

“I’m grown up now, and I need my own place,” he tells her. “Don’t cry, okay?”

Anna cries, anyway.

Elsa’s visits are less frequent. Hair paler than snow, eyes deeper than deepest water, Anna envies her detachment. Perhaps it’s easier to remain separate, to not feel blow after blow as those you love slip through your fingers like sand.

“You could come back with me,” Elsa says.

“I could,” says Anna. She doesn't have to say the words: but I won’t .

As much as Ahtohallan’s waters call to Anna, they frighten her as well. To come with Elsa would be an admission; the act of leaving her mortal life behind.

Deft fingers, Gerda tightens the stays of Anna’s gown. She allows her fingers to trace down her silhouette; nothing has shifted or slipped or sagged. Today is the 70th anniversary of her coronation.

“Thank you, Gerda,” she says, and Gerda coughs.

“Your Majesty… it’s Wilma,” the young woman says.

“Oh. Right. Thank you Wilma.”

It’d slipped her mind; Gerda had passed away thirty years past.

One spring morning, Anna’s grandson drives his new motorcar up the drive to the castle gates. “Made in Sweden, goes up to 40 miles per hour,” Anna could hear him boast, from across the garden. Ifun was always about his new toys. He waves her across the hedge.

“Nana, want to go for a ride? It’s quite safe.”

She eyes the metal horsecarriage in suspicion. “Are you sure?”

“I just drove her back from Stockholm. I’m sure.”

He zooms down the bumpy carriage track, and Anna can feel every rock and pit underneath. Her great granddaughter Iduna, pulls at her sleeve. “You look green, Nana Anna. Are you ok?”

“A horse has better suspension than this,” Anna mutters.

Iduna leans up to the front seat. “Can we go visit Auntie Elsa?”

Up they go; up the steep paths to the once-enchanted forest of the Northuldra. This is Elsa’s land, and although she does not rule as queen, the Northuldra give her the reverence due to her. They invoke her name as they invoke the name of the four spirits, give thanks to her in their songs.

Not a monarch; a goddess.

She is everywhere in these woods; her protection strung like gossamer thread from every tree. Her magic has a heartbeat, and the forest is alive.

Yet the Northuldra have not seen Elsa for over a year.

“The Fifth keeps to herself, as of late,” they tell Anna.

Waiting, they tell her. Though for what-- for who-- they cannot, or do not say.

That night, as they settle down inside their hosts hut, under warm furs, Anna cannot sleep. She can feel her sister’s loneliness as keenly as her own; an ice cold arrow to the heart.

She throws off the furs, and sets out. She does not have to travel far to find her. As the Northuldra said, Elsa has been waiting.

In the moonlit glade, her sister combs her fingers through the Nokk’s mane. She is so white that she glows. She casts her own light.

Something furious catches in Anna’s throat. “You gave me this duty,” she says.

You were the one who went away.

You were supposed to stay with me.

You left me, again.

Elsa hears it all. She dips her head, in remorse. Her hair shines like starlight.

“You had Kristoff. You were happy together,” she says.

“But you could have given me a choice.”

Elsa does not speak. Her fingers glide through water, combing the Nokk’s watery mane.

“Forget it. Let’s not fight.” The words are thick in her throat. That wasn’t what Anna had come here for. She’d come here, because--

“It was a selfish decision, I know,” says Elsa. “Giving the kingdom to you. But Anna, I couldn’t predict-- I couldn’t know we’d be--”

Spirits-- or two parts of one spirit, Anna was never entirely sure.

“And you do have a choice. I’m giving you it right now; come to Ahtohallan, with me. Pass the baton.”

She erases the distance between them, extends a hand. Anna wants so much to take it; to dive into those deep waters, no matter what dangers lurk beneath.

“You gave me a duty,” she says, stubbornly.

“And that duty is over. Anna.” She reaches for her sister, but Anna sets her back to her.

“I can’t ,” she says, as the stalks away through the forest, the trees casting long dark twisting shadows behind them.

One hundred years have passed since she danced with Elsa here, at the harvest festival. So much has changed; the buildings, the lights, lit with a phospherence that stings her eyes. Yet the stone beneath Anna’s feet remains, remembers. The echo of her laughter still lingers, even when all else has faded, like the paint peeling off the eaves...

Some things never change, but so much else does.

Iduna finds you, long after the festival has finished. Last year, she came of age. She’s made of memories; with Kristoff’s hair, Agnar’s chin, and her namesake’s eyes. All the people Anna has loved lives on inside her. When she speaks, sometimes Anna hears them speaking with her.

“What are you thinking about, Nana Anna?” she asks.

That I don’t want to watch you die, Anna thinks, although it seems prudent not to say it.

“That pumpkin pie and ice cream. I could just swim in it,” she says instead.

“Oh, I could too!” says Iduna. She’s definitely inherited her sweet tooth. But her smile fades. “You were looking terribly serious for someone thinking about ice cream.”

“Well. Just the past. Nothing interesting.”

“I don’t believe that at all. When you’re as old as you, Nana Anna, the past has to be interesting. Oh, not that you’re old , old. I mean--” she flusters. Anna laughs, puts her hand over hers. In Iduna she sees a lot of herself.

“It’s fine. I am totally old old. And I was just thinking about Elsa.”

Iduna’s eyes flare with curiosity. It’d become nearly a legend in Arendelle: the queen who’d frozen the kingdom solid. “Do you think she’ll come visit Arendelle again soon?”

“No,” says Anna. “I don’t think she will.”

“Oh. How come?”

“She’s waiting,” Anna says. She looks past the harbour; the fjord; past Arendelle itself. She thinks of a little girl, knocking on a door. Only, she’s on the other side, this time.

“You don’t need to watch over us anymore, you know,” says Iduna. She speaks quietly, but her words pull Anna back.

“What?”

Iduna crinkles a smile. “Arendelle will be fine. You taught us all well. Elsa’s waiting for you, right?”

She never realised it: that she’d been waiting for those words.

Elsa is waiting.

She stands, pulling on her cloak.

“Nana?”

She kisses Iduna on both cheeks.

“You’ll make a wonderful queen, Iduna.”

“Nana!”

She heads to the castle stables in quick strides, her heart beating fast. Iduna follows her in, breathing hard, as Anna equips the saddle. How long has it been since she’d last ridden?

“Nana, at least take the motorcar,” Iduna breathes, exasperated.

“I’ll pass. I’m a little old fashioned like this,” she says, swinging her leg over the saddle.

Anna musses Iduna’s hair with fondness, and spurs her horse on. Old memories stir in her like the smell of the soil rising from the earth after the rains; wind through her hair and the chestnut mare’s powerful muscles under her thighs. Her hair tumbles out of its braid, catches like a lick of fire as Gale swoops up and around her, its laughter in Anna’s ears.

“Gale! Tell Elsa I’m coming!”

The forest opens up to welcome Anna in. Trees in her path shift; the earth moves. Gale is at her back, pushing her further, faster.

Elsa is waiting for her, here, on the shore.

“Elsa! Elsa!”

She stumbles through the sand and shale, and into her sister’s arms.

“I’m here, I’m here.”

Elsa peels back to look at her. She hasn’t smiled so brightly in one hundred years. It transforms her; glows out of every part of her. “You’re here.”

“I’m sorry I made you wait,” says Anna.

“I’m sorry I made you choose.”

Anna pulls her close. “Don’t be. It wouldn’t have been fair.”

She presses a kiss to her sister’s lips.

She’d loved Kristoff, but Elsa is a part of her in a way that has always both terrified and enthralled her.

She has served her kingdom. She has done her duty. Now she lets her mortal fears unspool behind her like a kite let loose. She’s holding Iduna’s small hand as they let the thread loose; the kite catches the updraft and soars. The sky and sea are one endless blue as the Nokk’s hooves thunder over unbroken water. Together, they ride in Ahtohallan’s halls.

#elsanna #frozen 2 #my fanfiction

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reindeersweaters · 5 years ago

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Frozen Miracle

You know, I keep seeing stuff about wanting a KA wedding short... and I am NOT against that in anyway (I think it would be FANTASTIC!) but!!! May I present for your consideration!! Something like thiss!!!!

Rated: K

Words: Not that many... honestly I don’t even know.

There are some spoilers for Frozen 2 so I’m going to put it below the cut

Elsa sat next to Honeymaren, idly adding snowflake patterns into the baskets she was weaving with her ice magic. They were preparing for a celebration, but Elsa’s mind was miles away in the kingdom of Arendelle.

“Are you okay?” Honeymaren asked, noticing the way Elsa was distracted.

“Hmm? Oh, yeah. I’m just a bit... worried. I haven’t heard from Anna in a while and I should have by now.”

“I’m sure everything is fine.” Honeymaren tried to reassure her and she gently placed a warm hand atop her cold one. “Besides, even if something is wrong it won’t take you very long to get there. Just a few hours at the most. But I’m sure everything is okay.”

“I’m sure you’re right.” Elsa nodded, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was happening.

No sooner had she spoken those words when a paper sparrow came rocketing out of the sky and landed abruptly in her lap.

“Gale!” Elsa exclaimed as the wind spirit spun wildly around her and she leapt to her feet.

“What is it?” Honeymaren stood.

Elsa ripped open the letter.

come as quickly as you can

The words were clearly written hastily, and in Kristoff’s simple and abrupt hand, rather than Anna’s swirling script.

“I have to go!” Elsa gasped running to the nearest stream and summoning Nokk.

The water spirit bobbed it’s head impatiently as Elsa clambered onto its back.

“I don’t know when I’ll be back.” Elsa called to Honeymaren and then spurred the water spirit forward. “Start the festivities without me.”

It had been a while since Elsa had felt this level of fear. Seeing Anna frozen on the fjord by her own hand had been terrifying and had left her in complete despair. But that had only been for a moment. Anna had saved the day, then. Slowly freezing to death in the depths of Ahtohallen had been petrifying, but it more had to do with the fact that she wouldn’t be able to reach Anna again. Trying to rush to save Arendelle had been scary too, but even then she knew that all of the people would have been safe up on the cliffs.

This, this was true fear. She had absolutely no control.

Cold wind bit at her face as the Nokk galloped through the river and out into the fjord and she kept wishing she could somehow go faster. She knew there were basic laws of nature that she had to obey, and she could not magically transfer herself from one place to another.

She wished with all her might that for just a moment she was truly a spirit, though, and she could travel extreme distances in the blink of an eye.

Nokk, sensing her thoughts, pushed himself even harder.

Elsa gently stroked his neck in gratitude as she leaned over his body carefully.

“We’re almost there.” She muttered to him.

Arendelle’s castle came into view, magic snowflakes glistening from the topmost tower.

Elsa didn’t even wait for the Nokk to slow himself, she leapt off his back and took off running, bits of the fjord freezing beneath her feet as she bolted towards the castle.

Her feet knew the way, and carried her with frightful speed, people diving out of the path of the Snow Queen. Elsa knew she was leaving a trail of frost in her wake, but she couldn’t stop to calm herself and quell the magic.

“Mattias!” She called when she reached the gates, the head of the Arendellian guard standing at the ready, clearly waiting for her arrival.

“Elsa! This way! Quickly!” Mattias led her through the grand foyer and up several staircases and into the private wing of living quarters.

Both Elsa and Mattias slowed to a halt when they spotted Kristoff.

His back was to them, and he was standing painfully still, his shoulders hunched and tight.

“You were too late.” Kristoff whispered, not even having to turn to see that she had arrived.

“What?” Elsa said, that sinking feeling threatening to drown her. “What happened?”

Slowly, ever so slowly, Kristoff turned to reveal what he was holding.

Elsa gasped.

“She just came so quickly!” Kristoff explained, small, happy tears in his eyes. “I don’t think you could have made it if you flew.”

“I nearly was flying!” She approached him slowly and carefully peered into the mess of blankets to look at her little niece.

She was pink, and squashed and on the top of her little had there was a tuft of red hair. She snoozed peacefully in her father’s arms, clearly tired from the days events.

“Oh, Kristoff! She’s so beautiful.” Elsa whispered and gently hugged Kristoff from the side.

“Of course she is, she looks just like Anna. Except the eyes. They’re already brown like mine.”

“How is Anna?” Elsa asked suddenly concerned.

“She’s a bit tired, and sore obviously, but she couldn’t be better. The midwives told her she should rest while little miss here is sleeping. But she was amazing. I’ve truly never seen her stronger than she was in that moment.”

“You were in there with her?” Elsa seemed a bit surprised.

“Yes,” Kristoff nodded then lifted his eyebrows, “I could hardly say ‘no’ to a command from my queen.”

“No, I suppose you can’t.” Elsa chuckled.

“Congratulations again, your majesty.” Mattias said, clearly trying to bow out.

“Come and look at her.” Kristoff said holding out his daughter proudly.

Mattias seemed nervous, but he carefully leaned over and peered at the little heir in Kristoff’s arms and his features softened.

“She’s truly a little miracle.” He smiled. “Should I go and announce the birth to the people now that Elsa is here? They are waiting anxiously”

“Yes, thank you, Mattias.” Kristoff said, still beaming proudly.

“Kristoff?” There came a call from inside the room. “Kristoff is that Elsa? Is she here?”

Ever so carefully, Kristoff cradled his newborn child in one hand and opened the door with the other, revealing Anna, still laying in a bed looking both haggard and radiant at the same time.

“Elsa!” She beamed. “You’re here!”

As Kristoff and Elsa entered Mattias closed the doors behind them, giving them privacy.

“Oh, Anna.” Elsa hurried in and hugged her sister gingerly. “I’m so sorry I didn’t make it in time.”

“It’s alright! Little Elsa came faster than anyone expected. I didn’t realize I had been in labor all day and then suddenly it was time! I only pushed twice!”

“Elsa?” Elsa repeated. “You’re going to name her Elsa?”

“Well we haven’t completely decided.” Kristoff said, sitting down carefully beside his wife so she could take her baby back into her arms. “But Elsa is a nice name.”

“She would be ‘Queen Elsa the Second’ whenever she grows up and I think ‘the second’ sounds so regal.” Anna commented, not taking her eyes off the little baby before her.

“I was only queen here for three years. I don’t think it counts.”

“Psh, oh sure it does.” Anna scoffed.

“If you want her to be called ‘the second’ you could always name her ‘Anna’?” Elsa suggested.

“Ew. That sounds so conceited.”

“Well, Anna is my favorite name.” Kristoff pointed out.

“We are not naming her after me.”

“Then why don’t you name her after mother?” Elsa suggested.

“’Queen Iduna the second, of Arendelle’.” Anna said putting on a very pompous sounding voice. “It does have a nice ring to it.”

“Well we don’t have to decide right away.” Kristoff pointed out, his arm going gently around Anna’s shoulders.

“Oh look!” Anna whispered. “She’s waking up! Look, little one! This is your Auntie Elsa!”

Dark and curious little eyes peered up carefully at Elsa.

“Hello,” Elsa said in mock formality, “it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

This made Anna giggle, and Kristoff chuckle.

Olaf then came bounding into the room, Sven in tow.

“Oh look Elsa’s here! Elsa, did you see the baby! Fun fact! Babies are made when-”

“Olaf!” Kristoff yelped. “Not the time.”

“No? Okay! But isn’t she just so cute! I can hardly believe how weird and cute she looks!” Olaf clambered up onto the bed with them and then whispered to Elsa. “Did you know babies looked so weird?”

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elsanna-shenanigans · 4 years ago

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June Contest Submission #9: Any More

Warnings: depression and suicide, graphic descriptions of death.

Any More

Summary: What if Elsa hadn’t made it back from Ahtohallan?

I smell that chilly breeze blowing through the fjord

I felt her fall. I felt her fall into Ahtohallan, that cursed place, and never come out. She dove too deep, and she drowned in the river.

I still haven’t been there. Yelana offered to take me, to take any of us on an expedition across the Dark Sea, to Ahtohallan. She was so thankful that I restored the balance in nature, set the spirits straight, and broke the dam that my grandfather built to oppress the Northuldra.

Maybe someday.

I hear those creaky wagons as old board meets old board

I didn’t get a choice.

I had no say in the matter when she sacrificed herself to save our kingdom, and I had no say in the matter when the Northuldra, thinking they were doing the right thing, found her remains and brought her back.

I remember hearing the wagons as they crossed the moat over the gates, the stir of the crowd. I saw Yelana, Ryder, and Honeymaren leading the procession.

With Kristoff. And Sven.

I breath in the place I live and wonder what more I must give this home

I regret ever leaving the castle to meet them. I should have stayed inside. I should have been like her, locked the door, concealed myself away from the pain. Conceal, don’t feel sounded so stupid at the time, but I understand it now. I understand her now - too late.

I saw it on Kristoff’s face the moment they crossed the bridge. He was dreading seeing me, even though in his heart, he did it for me.

Our happy marriage lasted a week. Just a week, because without her here, nothing mattered. The coronation was a dull, distant memory, in the time before I knew she was gone. I’d given everything to do the next right thing.

My freedom for a crown.

My hand to someone I didn’t love.

My heart and soul to someone I loved and lost.

I have nothing left to give.

Almost nothing, anyway.

Our home

When the wagons came to the courtyard, I ran out. I screamed, but I couldn’t tell you what I said. All I remember was Kristoff grabbing me and shouting at me, trying to restrain me from the wagon. Sven’s head was hung low.

“No, Anna! No - please, don’t… don’t look, Anna. You don’t have to see- I don’t want you to see her like this.”

But I did. I looked, and I would have plucked my own eyes out if it meant never having to see that sight again, even though I would see it in my nightmares without fail, every evening. They’re called remains for a reason, because the person you knew as a whole, living person sometimes… isn’t. Isn’t healthy, isn’t living, isn’t… whole.

Kristoff pulled me away. “You don’t have to look any more, Anna. Come on. Let’s get you…”

I don’t remember the rest. All I remember is darkness.

Wandering through the town with everyone doing all of their stuff

I don’t know how long I wandered. It might have been an hour. A day. A week. A year. I can’t remember. I do remember the people - our people. My people. I keep forgetting it’s mine, not ours, because she’s gone.

Sleep was no friend of mine, because in sleep I kept seeing her. Sometimes I saw her in the wagon. Sometimes I saw her washed up on the shores of Ahtohallan, where Yelana found her. And every time I ask her why she did it, why she left me, why she didn’t love me enough to let us go together.

She never answers.

Somewhere in my heart I feel, they’ve taken more than enough

I didn’t mean to, but I did. I turned on the people. I blamed them for her death, blamed the kingdom for making her sacrifice herself. I blamed the spirits for their impotence. What good are demigods if they can’t do even basic things themselves?

Why did it take a girl to motivate rock giants to throw rocks at a dam? If the spirits were so all-knowing and all-powerful, why didn’t they just do it themselves, restore the balance, and… not take her from me?

They’ve taken more than enough. No more.

For these people I know, this place that I loved so

My last official act as Queen was to not be Queen any more. Mattias knew. He knew from the day the wagon arrived that Queen Anna was not long for her reign. I think he knew long before that, the moment I knew the truth, I’d come undone.

He has always been a good friend to our family, and he’ll make a fine Regent.

I wish that as I walk I could smell the kransekake walking out of the baker’s door

Depression is accurately named. After the shock and the sorrow wore off, what was left was… well, nothing. Nothing smelled good. Nothing tasted like anything. I could have eaten a slice of moldy bread or a bar of the richest chocolate and I wouldn’t know the difference. Every sensation was pressed down.

Colors became the same. Every sound became too loud, too harsh, too much. Only when it was quiet and dark and cold was it tolerable.

The bitter, bitter irony. The cold doesn’t bother me now.

The merchants haggling over fish remind me I lost what I wished

That’s not entirely true, actually. There’s one smell I remember, and I can’t forget no matter how much I want to, no matter how much I try.

Hers.

From the wagon.

The rotting smell at the docks is the closest I’ve come since, and I collapse into a puddle of my own vomit every time I’m near it.

No one helps me. Why would they? I abdicated. I’m just another citizen of Arendelle now, and days? Weeks? Years? of barely sleeping have taken their toll on me. I doubt anyone would recognize me now even if they did care.

‘Cause I’m all alone forever more

Mattias made sure that I had an attendant and a small allowance to live, as well as my room in the castle. But all I felt and heard was silence. Empty, hollow, oppressive silence that weighed on me like a blanket of stone.

I even miss Olaf. I should have known she was gone the moment he faded into flurries and didn’t come back. I still have his sticks and coal in a bag somewhere. His carrot rotted away long ago.

The memories in this castle weigh heavy on my heart

It’s funny how habits get ingrained in you. I stood outside her door, knocking, even though it’s been years since she lived in that room.

I slumped down against it, like I did when I was growing up. I could have opened it, of course - it wasn’t locked any more, and hadn’t been locked in years. But it may as well have been, because she won’t answer me when I cry out her name in the night.

Especially my family, we’d all been through a lot

Kristoff checked in on me frequently in the beginning, but I couldn’t bear to be near him. He reminded me every minute of what I didn’t have. I pushed him away. Bless him, he tried his hardest, but the days between visits became weeks, and then less.

And then one day, a messenger left a small package for me at the castle. In it was his ring and a note.

“I can’t wait any more.”

I don’t blame him. I hope he’s found someone and he’s happy. Someone deserves to be.

I know how fragile things can be. When I lost them, I lost me.

Mattias had to replace Elsa’s door. That was my fault, too. I don’t remember it at all, but he said that it was covered in deep scratches and blood.

I believe him. My fingers have scabbed cuts all over them, the fingernails torn away. The doctor said I need to rest, that I had something ridiculous… hysteria, he called it. He’s an idiot.

It’s not hysteria.

It’s soul-rotting grief.

They were my ocean, they were my shore

Was it quick? Did she suffer? When she washed up on the shores of Ahtohallan, was she still alive?

Did she call out to me to save her?

I don’t know. And not knowing is killing me, a little bit every day.

I tried to give them more

I should have pushed Elsa harder to let me come with her to Ahtohallan. I agonize over that argument we had on the hill overlooking our parents’ broken ship. Her last words to me, the last words I’ll ever hear from her, was that she can’t lose me.

Why didn’t I argue?

Why didn’t I fight?

If we had died, at least we would have died together. Instead, I lost her, and she lost me.

I never got to tell her I loved her one last time.

Now they’re home. Their home.

When he replaced Elsa’s door… I loved that door. It was the last piece of her I had, the last physical object that reminded me of her, that let me conjure up her face.

Once upon a time, I had more. She had a painting of us made, and she gave it to me on my birthday long ago. I don’t know what happened to that painting, but I miss it. I wish I could see her beautiful face any way other than the final time I saw it in the courtyard.

What was left of it.

Bless this peacefulness you found, bless this hallowed solid ground

The hills are where our parents’ memory stones are, and where I had her buried. It’s peaceful up here. Quiet. Our parents’ stones are large, imposing, dark grey slabs of rock with their names carved into them, even though there’s nothing underneath the soil. I often wonder if there are two skeletons on a distant shore somewhere.

I wonder if that’s how I would have found Elsa one day, if Yelena hadn’t found her first.

But it’s quiet up here, peaceful. The mountains that she loved are lined in snow.

Back when… when I still had her, I could see her ice palace from here. It shone like a diamond against the mountains, especially at sunset.

It broke when she did. Now it’s just the mountains up here again.

Your home

Her stone is in the middle, between our parents. I had the castle staff scour the land for the whitest, most pure marble in the land, and had it carved in the shape of a snowflake, sanded to the smoothness of her ice.

It’s always cool to the touch any time of year, just like her skin was. Cool, pure white, smooth, flawless. Her name is engraved along the side, so that the perfect surface remains flawless through the centuries.

My home

This is where they’ll find me. With her, next to her, where I belong. Where I belonged this whole time. I never left her, because I died the day she did, and the honest truth is, it’s just taken a while for my body to catch up with my heart and soul.

I’m home.

The merchant said it’s painless. One swallow, and I’ll just… go.

Elsa, I love you. I’m coming home.

#elsanna #june 2020 contest #prompt: more #submission #tw: suicide

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ahtohallanfound · 4 years ago

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@walkingshcdow sent: The music box plays a sweet, little melody, but the wonder is the mechanical innovation that animates the butterfly wings; a piece of spring in the coldest month. Mar sends its regards and these are those of its king: "Happiest birthday to my dear friend. Fondest wishes-" Finnegan's handwritten signature flourishes at the bottom. When Elsa has played the tune twice, the compartment with his real letter will open: a letter with more warmth than he can convey when customs officers will see.

The music box alone is, of course, beautiful, and Elsa would have been touched even if that had been all that had been sent. Years of isolation have left her unaccustomed to receiving birthday gifts from anyone besides her family, and this gift from Mar is a lovely surprise. Even more touching, of course, is the hidden letter. Elsa sits at the desk in her study, reading the letter several times over, and smiling to herself all the while.

Life has changed significantly since opening the gates of Arendelle, and rarely does a day go by where Elsa is alone. Between her duties to her people, and making up for lost time with Anna, her days are spent surrounded by people. And yet, she maintains a bit of distance all the same; as pleasant as it is to no longer be alone, Elsa isn’t as outgoing and eager to befriend any and everyone as the younger Arendelle sister. Few are close enough to be considered the queen’s friend. Anna, of course. Kristoff, Olaf, Sven---and Finnegan, the king of Mar. Her dearest friend outside of the family she and Anna have built. And the heartfelt letter he hid within the music box’s secret compartment means more to her than the music box itself ever will.

As she leaves the study, she hands the music box off to Kai, the steward, with instructions to find a suitable place to display it in the drawing room. The secret letter, however, she takes with her to her room. Tucked away in a small trunk beneath her bed are Elsa’s keepsakes---mostly letters and drawings from Anna, some shoved under a locked door, some given in-person more recently, a few things left behind by their parents, a crystal from Kristoff and the trolls. Finnegan’s letter is tucked safely away with the rest of these precious memories.

#walkingshcdow #❅ v. The Past Is In The Past

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im-fairly-whitty · 5 years ago

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Ablaze: A Frozen Alternate History AU

Fifteen years ago Elsa disappeared up the mountain when she lost control of her ice powers at her coronation and was never seen again, leaving Queen Anna and her husband the Prince Regent Hans to rule Arendelle as it descended into a cursed eternal winter. A year later Arendelle’s new prince was born, a boy cursed with the power of fire instead of ice. Now fourteen-year-old Prince Taavi has begun to hear a voice singing to him far in the distance that no one else can hear, beckoning him toward the secrets of his family’s past and the secrets of his own magic.

[Chapter 1 - Water]

Chapter 2 - Ice

As much as Taavi complained about being trapped in the castle he was no stranger to the outside world. Even when he’d had trouble controlling his fire, his parents had always insisted it was more important for him to go out and learn to secretly control it than to live behind a locked door.

This had led to more close calls than Taavi could remember, but it meant he’d traveled across Arendelle his whole childhood to see the towns and meet the people he would one day be responsible for, even visiting his many uncles down in the Southern Isles once or twice. Taavi had seen snowy countryside and secluded woods, icy villages and bustling cities.

But none of his past journeys could have prepared him for this, to be clinging to to back of a nøkk in the dead of night, desperately struggling not to slip as it carried him at a breathless speed along the only running river in Arendelle, straight up the forbidden mountain that had always loomed high over his own home.

He’d been in forests before, but somehow the dark frost-blasted pines and skeletal dead birches that reached their branches across the river above felt as if they were watching him. Taavi couldn’t know exactly why, but something deep inside could tell something was wrong with this forest, and it wasn’t just the tales he’d grown up hearing of all the dark magic that roamed these woods looking for victims foolish enough to cross into the shadows.

“Vand, hold on,” Taavi called, his fingers aching from his death grip on the water horse’s mane. “I’m going to fall off, slow down.”

Vand slowed, pranced to a stop. His hooves glancing off the liquid surface of the river as he looked back at Taavi quizzically.

“Sorry, I just need a break, I’m not used to going this fast.” Taavi said, swinging his leg over Vand’s back to dismount. “Just let me walk a minute.”

He didn’t remember until an instant too late that Vand was standing on the surface of a snowmelt river. The cold of the water felt like a physical blow as Taavi fell under the surface, submerged in a blindingly frigid instant. His entire body locked up, the heat inside him snuffing out in shock.

Something clamped around his wrist and Taavi felt himself yanked up. He gasped as his head burst to the surface, the cold of the air made worse by the cold of the water. He looked up to see Vand had caught hold of his wrist, the water horse dragging him to the snowy riverbank in a few watery strides.

Had Taavi ever been this cold in his life? He numbly searched for the flame inside him, finding only a small ember. It had never felt this small. Is this how normal people felt?

Taavi coughed as he struggled to move, his muscles stiff and useless feeling after only seconds under the water.

“Call your fire.” Vand commanded, now crouching beside him in human form. “You’re going to freeze if you don’t.”

“Y-y-you said y-you’d stay in sh-shallow w-water.” Taavi said through chattering teeth, trying to focus hard enough to summon any warmth he could, chasing the barest flicker of heat in his chest as he shivered violently.

“Well next time don’t throw yourself off when we’re still in the middle of the river. Humans drown so easily, you should know better.” Vand said, sounding altogether too casual considering the situation.

Vand looked up and around them, then pointed through the trees. “It’s just as well we stopped though. This as far as I can take you by river, it gets too steep further up and I won’t be able to carry you. Beyond those trees you’ll see a path. Walk it and it will lead you to the palace of ice, when you reach the front gate go left until you see a pool of water and I’ll see you there.”

“A-a what?” Taavi chattered, rubbing his arms. He was sure if he took off his wet gloves his skin would be turning blue, but Vand didn’t seem to be very concerned.

“A pool of water.”

“No, th-the ice palace.”

“Yes, you’ll know it when you see it I imagine.” Vand said. “Whatever you do don’t knock on the door, I have to be the one to bring you in the back way. And be sure not to-”

“Hey! You get away from him!”

Taavi jumped as a booming voice cut through the night air. Vand disappeared in front of him, vanishing back into the water in an instant. Taavi turned toward the rough sound of snow crunching underfoot and saw a dark hulking figure looming toward him. Some half delusional, too-cold-to-think-straight part of him nearly threw himself into the river after Vand to escape the approaching figure.

“Are you friend or fae?” The figure demanded, hoisting the greenish yellow light of a lantern between them. They were cloaked in layers of thick woolen clothing and frost, two eyes peering at him suspiciously from between a scarf and a hat.

“S-s-sorry?” Taavi asked, trying to stand and failing miserably, his legs seizing up weakly and tumbling him into the snow.

“Oh great, you are human aren’t you?” The figure said, yanking down his frosted over scarf to reveal the face of a very concerned looking man.

He yanked off one of his thick leather mittens and looked over his shoulder, giving a sharp whistle with two fingers. A moment later a saddled reindeer came bounding into view through the snow, pulling up beside the man who started unbuckling pack straps.

“Yes he’s human, Sven.” The man said, presumably to the reindeer, as he rifled through a pack. “And he’s about to freeze to death, looks like the nøkk dragged him up here.”

The man shook out a thick blanket and wrapped it around Taavi, hefting him into his arms and quickly carrying him away from the dark rushing water of the river.

“W-wait, I have to talk to him.” Taavi said, trying to turn to look back. It almost felt like the blanket was charmed, its amazing warmth wrapped around him was already eating away the numbness in his bones, chasing away his violent shivering as he started to feel the edges of the familiar heat inside him starting the wake up again.

“Not a chance.” The man said firmly, trekking across the snow and into the trees. “I don’t know what that water spirit told you to drag you all the way up this mountain, but it wasn’t the truth. You can’t trust anything up here, we’re getting you warm again and then we’re getting you home. What village are you from?”

“Wait, stop. You can put me down, I’m supposed to be here.” Taavi said, struggling against the blanket as they got further away from the path Vand had pointed out to him.

His struggling made the heat inside him flicker, finally high enough that he could grab at it. A delicious heat swept through his body, eating away every bit of cold in him, making him feel alive again, his mind clearing.

The man set him down, eyeing him warily as Taavi pulled the now stifling blanket off from around his shoulders. He flexed his fingers inside his wet silk gloves and carefully pushed the heat up just a bit more, enough the dry his wet clothes, the air steaming around him as the cloth returned to its normal dry warmth. The snow at his feet melted down around him.

“Alright now that I haven’t seen before.” The man said warily, pulling out a necklace of glowing yellow crystals from under his scarf, holding onto them like they could protect him. The reindeer at his side watched Taavi with its ears pinned back in suspicion.

“I’m human, I promise,” Taavi said quickly, tugging his gloves back into place and running a hand through his river-mussed hair. “And thank you very much for your help, I accidentally fell in the river but I’m better now that I’m warm again. Vand was taking me to...see someone, I’m alright, I can keep going now.”

“Well from where I was standing it looked an awful lot like you were being drowned by a nøkk,” The man said flatly. “First question, what magic are you using, second question who was he “taking you to see”? I’m the only person on this mountain. Well, other than the idiots I have to turn back for their own protection.” He looked pointedly at Taavi.

Taavi swallowed. Talking about his abilities with two complete strangers in one night really shouldn’t have been the strangest feeling event of the evening, but it still felt unsettling after a lifetime of carefully hiding and controlling it.

“My name is Prince Taavi of Arendelle, and I was born cursed with the ability to make fire.” Taavi said, standing up straight. “I don’t know why, but the water horse says he can show me. I have to go to a palace of ice to get my answers, do you know where that is?”

“Fire huh?” The man said, rubbing his chin. “Well I’m Kristoff of the trolls, and I carry enough of their magic to know that you being up here at all is bad news. There’s a reason that Sven and I stuck around after everyone else died or left, there’s dark magic on this mountain and it’ll kill anyone who’s dumb enough to try getting near it.”

Kristoff shrugged, “I mean you’ve gotten way closer than most, I’ll give you that, but we’re taking you back home. Now. If you really are the prince then we certainly don’t need you ending up like the last queen. Sven and I have enough to deal with up here without a fire wraith.”

“You know about my aunt?” Taavi asked eagerly.

“That’s really your big takeaway from everything I just said?” Kristoff said flatly.

“Please, that’s why I’m here, no one in the palace ever talks about her,” Taavi said, “Vand said he could take me to see her.”

“Well if he told you that then he’s definitely trying to get you killed.” Kristoff said, shooting a dark look back toward the river. “He’s fae, I can guarantee he’s got his own agenda he hasn’t told you about, his kind don’t give favors for free kid.”

“But he’s my only chance at learning to control my magic!” Taavi pleaded, “Please tell me what you know about my aunt?”

Kristoff growled, dragging a hand down his face and looking at Taavi through his fingers. “Fine. But afterward you’re going straight home.”

“I make no such promise.” Taavi said, folding his arms.

Kristoff muttered something under his breath that sounded a lot like spoiled royal.

“All I know is that Queen Elsa was born cursed with ice powers.” Kristoff said with a sigh. “As far as we can tell she finally lost control at her coronation and ran up here where she built her ice fortress and turned into some kind of evil ice wraith. She’s the real reason we haven’t had a summer in fifteen years you know, your family tries to keep it hushed up but it has nothing to do with the trolls like everyone says.”

Born cursed. Just like him. Taavi been right then, his suspicions when he’d found the trunk of blue gloves hadn’t been crazy after all. Aunt Elsa had been like him, but with ice instead of fire. Was she always cold the way he was always hot? Did she hate summers the way he hated winter?

Maybe she really could help him then after all, she might even know why their family had these powers in the first place.

“How do you know?” Taavi asked, looking up at Kristoff eagerly, “Who told you?”

“I only know because your grandparents asked the trolls for help ages ago,” Kristoff said. “Back when Queen Elsa was young and having trouble controlling herself I guess.”

“Wait, as in you know actual trolls?” Taavi asked, looking up. Father’s bedtime stories about trolls had never ended well, all tales of kidnapped children, stolen memories, and deals gone wrong.

“You got something against trolls?” Kristoff asked, folding his arms. “I was raised by them, they’re my family. They all moved away when the winter curse hit, but their magic is how Sven and I survive. How we were able to save you from being drowned by a nøkk I might add.”

Kristoff was a changeling? That meant he had been kidnapped from his real parents as a child. Did he even remember that?

“He wasn’t trying to drown me, I dismounted before he was ready and I can’t swim.” Taavi said primly, folding his own arms back at Kristoff. “And now as Prince of Arendelle, I command you to take me to the ice palace. Fortress. Whatever it is. Please.”

Kristoff looked at him with a distinctly unimpressed expression. “Sorry your highness but you’re going straight back home.” He said flatly.

“Fine, I’ll go myself then.” Taavi decided, turning around and starting to pick his way back toward the river. It was slow going, his warm boots sinking down in snow that came all the way to his hips with every step.

“No you’re not.” Kristoff said, walking over on his snowshoes and hefting Taavi up out of the snow by his collar. “My job is to keep people away from that fortress and that’s what I’m going to do. Besides, I’m pretty sure it’s treason or something if I let a prince go to his death.”

“Let me go!” Taavi said, reaching back clumsily to whack at Kristoff, the heat inside him spiking in frustration.

There was a yelp and Taavi dropped face first into the snow. When he wiped the snow from his eyes and looked back he saw Kristoff shaking his bare hand like he’d been burned.

“Geez you weren’t kidding about that fire magic.” Kristoff said, hissing a little with pain.

“I’m sorry!” Taavi cried, jumping up. “I’m really sorry, I didn’t mean to burn you, sometimes I can’t control it and-”

“It’s fine, don’t worry about it.” Kristoff huffed, bending down to stick his hand in the snow. “Believe me, I’ve been burned worse before on my own campfires. But I guess this means I can’t drag you down the mountain if you don’t want to go, huh?”

Taavi bit his lip, folding his arms tightly against the heat inside him as he shook his head. “I have to go, I have to find my answers.”

Kristoff pulled his hand out of the snow, checking it before wiping it dry on his pants and carefully pulling his leather mitten back on. He looked Taavi over.

“Well...” Kristoff said reluctantly. “I really don’t want you to end up an icicle kid, I’ve seen it happen too many times, it’s not pretty. But if I can’t convince you otherwise I guess that’s that.” He pulled his thick woolen cap off, scratching at his blonde hair and then pulling it back on. “Although if you can ramp up that fire magic of yours I guess there might—and that’s a real slim might—be a shred of a one in a million chance of you surviving...”

“Vand says he’s waiting for me left of the front gate.” Taavi said, “I think he knows my aunt, he can make sure nothing happens to me. And I’ll keep myself warm I promise.”

Kristoff stared at him for a long minute, then let out a long growling sigh. He turned to Sven’s saddlebags, fishing something small out of one and handing it to Taavi. A small wooden whistle.

“Sven and I can't risk getting much closer to the fortress, even with our troll magic.” Kristoff said, handing Taavi the whistle. “But we can take you to the edge of the forest where you’ll be able to see it. When you come to your senses blow the whistle and we’ll do our best to come grab you, if we can get to you while you’re still alive, without us dying, we’ll take you straight home.”

Taavi bi the inside of his cheek as he took the little whistle. “Thanks.” He said, pocketing it.

“Alright then, let’s take you to your death.” Kristoff said humorlessly as he strapped Sven’s saddlebags closed. “This way kid, keep that heat of yours going, you’re going to need it.”

Kristoff and Sven started off across the snow and Taavi hurried to keep up, carefully increasing his internal heat and holding it steady. It was hotter than he’d ever purposefully held it, but the farther they trudged through the dark trees the more he needed it, the temperature seeming to drop a little more with each step.

His legs were getting tired of pushing through the melting snow, carving a deep path behind him, but the heat inside him only seemed to eagerly grow, happily responding to his call as if pouring from a limitless reservoir he was finally tapping into for the first time.

By the time Kristoff finally pulled them to a stop at the edge of the trees Taavi was grinning in excitement at how much heat he was putting out. He could actually smell the heated scent of his clothing, a near singed smell, but the cold of air meant he was still only melting the snow directly around him. How cold was it up here?

“Alright, there it is.” Kristoff said grimly, gesturing out beyond the trees.

Taavi pushed ahead a little more to see, his heat spiking a bit when he finally saw it.

Vand has said it was an ice palace, Kristoff had described it as an ice fortress. Taavi would have said it was an ice lair. The massive building was easily several times bigger than the Arendelle castle, settled up against the maintain peak as if it had grown there.

There were sleek purple blue lines and delicate spires of ice to it, as if it had once been a thing of beauty, but it looked as if years had changed and warped its original design. Darker, sharper ice had expanded the fortress, breaking its symmetry. A sea of spikes defensively overgrew the grounds around it like a forest of thorns.

Taavi stared at it mouth open. One person had made all that? Despite its foreboding aura he couldn’t help wondering if he had that kind of power in him too if Aunt Elsa had been able to create something like that all on her own.

He felt the flame inside him leap at the thought. Let’s try. It seemed to say. Let me out, let’s see what we can do.

“So, ready to go home?” Kristoff said, jolting Taavi out of his reverie.

“Not yet.” Taavi said, trying and failing to keep his smile off his face. He knew this was hardly the time for it, but he couldn’t help the primal kind of excitement building in him. It felt like the flame he was always trying to hold back was waking up for the first time. “I’m going in to meet Vand.” Taavi said, holding up the whistle. He didn’t quite notice the way his fingerprints darkened the wood slightly where he touched it. “I’ll call you if I need to.”

Kristoff and Sven exchanged a look that Taavi couldn’t quite read, but he guessed the two of them certainly weren’t reassured by his smile.

“It was nice knowing you kid.” Kristoff said, taking a large step back. “If you become the next curse on this mountain just remember we helped you out and don’t burn us alive, alright?”

Taavi got the feeling that Kristoff wasn’t joking at all.

“I’ll be right back, I promise,” Taavi said. He gave a little bow, “And thank you again for your help, I really do appreciate it, my parents can reward you when we get back to the castle.”

Kristoff gave him a good natured thumbs up as Taavi started forging ahead, but he could tell the man didn’t believe for a second that he was ever going to see any reward at all.

Taavi bit his lip, focusing on the path ahead. Well, he was just going to have to show Kristoff then. He was going to get in, get his answers, and get out safely. The reindeer man didn’t know what he was talking about.

Taavi stepped forward out of the darkness of the trees, his footsteps melting through the snow as he walked, then the snow gave way to thick crusts of ice that resisted his heat. The ice started to get prickly underfoot, making his path an unsteady one, and soon he was carefully ducking through and around huge tangled spikes of dark ice that choked the path entirely.

It took some doing, but Taavi finally reached a slim stairway that spanned a dizzyingly steep abyss between him and the fortress. Or at least it looked like it used to be a slim stairway, the first half was smashed off as if something huge had crashed through it long ago. A jagged mess of ice and snowdrifts had eaten down what little proper stairway there was left, spanning the chasm in a much wider but more dangerous looking bridge.

Taavi wanted badly to look down over the edge of the makeshift bridge, but knew for a fact that if he did that his chances of being permanently rooted to the spot in fear were about a hundred percent.

He swallowed hard as he eyed the precarious pathway, following it up to where he could see the ice fortress looming above him, a front entrance watching him from above.

He absently fiddled with the wooden whistle in his pocket as he bit the inside of his cheek. The excitement he’d felt a minute ago was waning fast, and he could feel the heat inside him turning to one fueled by fear now instead of determination, flaring a bit with each beat of his heart.

But Vand wouldn’t have told him to go to the front door if it hadn’t been safe right? He’d said there would be answers for Taavi in the castle, things that could help him finally control his fire curse. He just had to control it until he got to the other side of the bridge. Melting the bridge while he was on it would only have one very deadly ending.

Taavi took a deep breath, then another and another, chasing the scared heat inside him as far down as he could manage. Control, don’t be controlled. He could do this, he could keep control for the minutes it would take to get across.

He looked to his right and found a long thin ice spike, he grabbed it and yanked, cracking it off at the base. Still breathing deeply he used the ice spike to hit the foot of the bridge. It clattered against the solid ice underneath a layer of snow.

Okay. Okay okay okay.

Taavi focused on the cold of the ice in his hands, wishing he could fold his arms to chase back his heat as he took a step into the bridge, keeping to the very middle of it, as far away from the railingless edges as possible.

Take a deep breath to tamp down his heat, tap for solid ground with the ice spike, take a step forward. Deep breath, tap, step. Breath, tap, step.

Taavi inched forward up the steep bridge, humming nervously to himself as he made sure to plant each foot securely before putting his weight on it. Slipping was not an option.

Breath, tap, step. Breath, tap, step.

After a minute of slow going he chanced a glance up and back. He was about halfway to the proper stairs now, he’d have something to hold onto then. If he could just-

A gust of icy mountain wind came whipping around the peak, hitting Taavi from the side just as he took another step. His foot slipped and he slid against a patch of ice, dropping him to his knees. His hum turned to a panicked whine as his fingers dug into the snow, his panic only spiking further as his heat flared and his gloved fingers started melting into the ice beneath the snow.

The ice that was the only thing between him and the gaping abyss below him.

No no no.

Taavi stumbled to his feet, then slipped again, his adrenaline now surging along with and because of the flaring heat flowing off him. He couldn’t breathe as the ice and snow around and under him became even more slick with ice melt.

He had to get across now.

Taavi lunged forward and up the bridge, staying low as he scrambled up the failing bridge, his own powers flaring stronger in fear with every step. He reached the proper bridge part and grabbed at the railing, only for his hand to melt right through it, throwing him even more badly off balance, making him even hotter as all control he’d thought he’d had evaporated as quickly as the snow underfoot.

He could smell singed cloth as he madly propelled himself up the last of the steps, his foot actually catching on the last one as it melted straight through the thin ice, slamming him forward onto his face.

But onto the cliff, not the stairs. As the snow and ice melted around him Taavi nearly cried in relief to see sturdy and unmeltable rock revealed underneath him.

He yanked his foot up onto solid ground after him and looked back at the bridge, panting in heady relief. The bridge stared back at him silently, as foreboding as ever. The patches he’d melted had already refrozen in the frigid mountain air, into dripping icicles off the side or through the small foot and hand shaped divots that had melted through the thinner parts.

A normal person could probably still cross it easily, but in that moment Taavi had to pretend very hard to himself that he wasn’t going to have to cross it again to get back home.

Once his breath started to feel less painful he wrestled back what heat he could back under control. Taavi shakily got to his feet, folding his arms tightly and looking up at the fortress walls soaring high above him. The entire building emanated an eerie pink glow from deep within its dark ice, as if lit by some malevolent force within.

Taavi looked back over the chasm, suddenly wishing very much that Kristoff had come with him. Or that maybe Kristoff had been more convincing when he’d told him to go home...

But no. Taavi had made it this far, he couldn’t turn back now.

Vand had said to look to the left, that there would be a pool of water. Taavi took a deep breath, sticking as close to the ragged walls of the ice palace as he could as he picked his way through the snow and ice, heading away from the front doors. Now he was grateful again that his steps melted through the snow, giving him more solid footholds that wouldn't send him slipping over the cliff edge to his left that he was not going to look at.

His pace quickened as he heard the gurgling trickle of running water, and he felt relief wash through him as he turned a final corner to see a familiar willowy figure come into view.

“Vand!” Taavi called out, hurrying to him.

“There you are prince,” Vand said with a smile, waving him over. The water spirit was standing in a canal of water that was somehow liquid despite the canal itself being made entirely of polished ice. “I was starting to wonder if you’d fallen off a cliff after all.” Vand said cheerfully, “Here, follow me and keep quiet.” He waved Taavi over, taking his hand and helping him into the canal with him, “Keep that heat up this time, I imagine this water isn’t much warmer than the river.”

It might have been the way the freezing water came up to Taavi’s chest, or the fact that he’d just been talking to a real human with Kristoff just now, but for the first time Vand’s distinctly inhuman lack of real concern registered with Taavi. Was he even going to ask about Kristoff?

It wasn’t exactly that the nøkk was unkind, but just that he was...distant... Where Kristoff had been willing to get burned to keep him safe, the water horse only seemed concerned with coaxing him further up the mountain, further into the ice fortress, further towards the admittedly vague reward he’d promised Taavi. Whether or not that happened to involve risking drowning or falling off cliffs.

He’s fae, I can guarantee he’s got his own agenda he hasn’t told you about, his kind don’t give favors for free kid.

“Hang on,” Taavi said, pulling his arm back from Vand as the water spirit started to lead him through the tunnel in the ice fortresses’ wall. “What exactly are we going to find in there?”

“You’ll see.” Vand said, not even looking back as he continued to walk along the surface of the water.

“Vand, stop.” Taavi said, standing as firmly as he could in lightly flowing water, digging his fingers into the ice edge of the canal. “The man I met back there said that Elsa is dangerous now, that she’s killed people. If I’m about to go into her ice fortress I need to know what to expect. You promised me answers, but I can’t get them if I’m dead.”

Vand looked back to Taavi, tilting his head. He walked back over and crouched down beside Taavi. “Well of course she’s dangerous,” he said simply, his pale eyes shining in the moonlight. “Everything truly beautiful in this world is dangerous.”

“That is not what I mean,” Taavi said, adjusting his grip on the side as his nervous heat began to melt through his hand hold. “I mean what is she, and is she going to kill me if I go in?”

“She is trapped and she is scared.” Vand said quietly, and for the first time Taavi could see real emotion on his face. Sadness maybe? “I won’t let you come to harm, but we will have to be very careful. We are going to sneak in quietly and then I will go to prepare her to meet you. She hasn’t seen anyone but me in a very long time, but I think you are the only person in the world who will be able to reach her.”

“What do you mean reach her?” Taavi asked, somehow feeling both more and less confident at Vand’s answers. It was becoming clear that Vand did have another reason for bringing him up here, just as Kristoff had said. “Is she a ghost? A monster? Is she dead or not?”

“Monsters are only what humans call things they both fear and cannot control.” Vand said, looking at Taavi hard, “Isn’t that why you keep your powers secret? Because you fear what other humans will call you if they found out? Because you’re afraid they would know the answer to the question you’re afraid of answering yourself?”

“Stop talking in riddles.” Taavi demanded, dodging the question, “Vand, I need to know if I can trust you or not.”

“You can trust me.” Vand said, “Any other human? Perhaps not, but you’re cut from the same cloth as Elsa and I. Your magic sets you apart, but it sets you among us as well. Elsa is more spirit than human now, but it is the human part of her that is caught and tangled, trapping her here. My hope is that you can help her untangle it and then she will be able to assist you back. The complexities of human emotion are...not within my realm of expertise, which is why I need your help.”

Well at least half a cryptic answer was better than no answer.

“You know if you’d been this vague and mystical sounding back at the castle I wouldn’t have come with you.” Taavi huffed.

Vand laughed, a musical flowing sound that somehow made him feel a little less annoyed.

“Yes you would have.” Vand said with a grin, “You’re too much like your mother and father to stay away from what you want. And besides, your magic pulls you toward the truth. Which is perhaps the most dangerous thing of all.” Vand took Taavi’s hand and stood, pulling him up to stand on the surface of the water with him, the water feeling solid under his feet. “Now, stay close to me and keep quiet, keep your heat as high as you can and on the ready.” He paused, looking at Taavi. “Does that sound alright?”

It didn’t, it still sounded like something Taavi wanted to ask a million more questions about to get specific details. But Vand was right about one thing, Taavi was in the realm of magic now. Taavi had known at least that much when he’d agreed to come, and anyone who had ever heard a fairy tale in their lives knew that when it came to magic you were never going to be shown all the answers at once.

Taavi wasn’t going to be able to have complete control of the situation and he was going to have to accept that at least a little for now.

“Let’s go.” Taavi said, nodding. “Just...warn me if I’m about to do something stupid again, like at the river.”

Vand chuckled, then started down the tunnel, Taavi in tow, “I’ll do my best.”

Taavi tried to return the smile but only managed to bite his lip hard enough to make it bleed as he followed Vand deeper into the fortress.

———–

Next chapter soon, be sure to follow to get it as soon as it posts. As always, my ask box is open to worldbuilding/story questions, comments, and general exclamations. :)

#frozen #frozen 2 #ablaze au #elsa #kristoff #sven #my ocs #vand #taavi #in the tradition of MC kids this MC kid has no idea what he's getting himself into

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