Chapter 27

~ Kristoff ~

The sisters' rooms were very much alike, with gilded wardrobes, soft aroma of scented oils, rosemaling on the walls, and a high ceiling. Elsa's room was neater, Kristoff noted with a tinge of guilt, as she didn't share Anna's woe of him leaving clothes and gear lying around.

The mysterious urn Anna mentioned was perched on the table, making a grim imitation of a vase. He'd have to ask about it later.

"So, what was it you needed to talk to me about?" Elsa sat before her dresser with a comb in hand, her cape to him.

Kristoff chewed on his lips. Where to even begin?

The day before, he'd found the horses crammed into a stall, so spooked out it took him an hour to coax them out. By the excrement smeared over the floor and their sides, they'd been at this for two days at least. The smell made him gag.

"Sven, what's going on?" Kristoff said, brushing the mane of a foal to calm it down.

The reindeer glanced up. Darkened stains fanned across the rafters and roof like giant claws. Water damage. But water couldn't get up there unless it came from a leak, or... melted ice.

"Let me guess – Elsa."

At the mention of her name, Sven sprung up, braying.

"Whoa whoa whoa, that bad?"

Sven nodded tensely.

Kristoff brought a carrot out. "Okay bud, on a scale of our resident snow queen being a little weird, bite off a small piece. Quite weird, a bigger piece. Super weird–"

Sven darted forward and gulped the whole thing down.

"Kristoff."

Elsa had shifted to face him. "Is this about the Splendor?"

Kristoff met her eyes. "Yes." And much more.

"I'm sorry I lost control. I'm sorry I hit Anna. I'm sorry I hurt so many people."

Okay, she's apologizing. Good start. Kristoff opted for the diplomat's approach. "You were trying to stop Weselton."

A hint of a smile passed Elsa's lips. "Indeed. And you helped. If you haven't shouted them into surrender…" Her smile fell. Then you would've been forced to kill them? Elsa dipped her head. "Kristoff, everyone was afraid; even Anna. Yet you acted. What were you thinking?"

"I wanted to protect them, and you, Elsa."

"They couldn't have hurt me. But, thank you. You don't fear my magic, do you?"

"So long as you aren't summoning giant ice monsters, don't see why I should," Kristoff chuckled.

Elsa's expression was unreadable.

"Never mind, forget I said that," Kristoff said in a guarded tone. "What about the merchants and sailors?"

A flash of irritation cracked Elsa's icy demeanour. "Have you spoken to Anna yet?" She turned back to the mirror, sliding the comb up and down. Her hair was like a silver waterfall, and her movement was deft and graceful.

"Why do you think I'm here?" he said.

"Then you know what my decision is."

"Come on, Elsa. Think this through again. We're talking about innocents here."

"Innocents?" She snorted. "How would you know who is and who isn't? Remember Hans?"

It was as Anna said then; Elsa had always been stubborn before, but never like this. And she'd never bring up Hans just to win an argument. Just what had happened in the week they were gone?

"Okay. The mercs shot at you; you have all the reason in the world to lock them up. But look at folks like Thomas and Li Hua. They are merchants! It's ridiculous to punish them for what, showing us Weselton's goods? You are more reasonable than this."

"You've only known me for three months, Kristoff."

He crossed his arms. "True. But still, I can tell, you've changed."

"Changed? The only thing that's changed is that I've finally realized – some people will never forgive me for having magic. They don't deserve my mercy."

"You mean Rasmus and Lars? Fine okay, that was–"

"No. All of them. Weselton. That place's nothing but a pit of vipers. They'd never show mercy to me, why should I give them mine?"

A chill ran down Kristoff's back.

Elsa glanced at a painting on the wall. "Do you know what the Arendelle crocus symbolizes?"

"No, not really."

Elsa went back to grooming her hair, as if there was nothing more to be said.

Kristoff cocked his head, taken aback. "Okay, tell me."

"It's a symbol of rebirth." Elsa rose to her feet. "The entire time that you and Anna were away, it gave me time to think, to reflect on things. Why is that I, of all people, have magic? People fear it, and I did too, for a long time." Elsa crossed the distance between them, and Kristoff felt the bite of winter closing in. "But no more! Now I understand it's because I'm a ruler. This power was granted to me, and I'm going to use it. Arendelle is a strong kingdom, but she could be stronger still. She could be the mightiest kingdom in the world– I'll make sure of it! I will make my father proud at last. No more hiding, no more concealing! Everyone will bear witness to Queen Elsa in all her glory!"

He could hear the desperation in her voice. She wanted, needed to believe this.

"Elsa."

"You understand, don't you Kristoff? You don't fear me. You know the wonders of magic."

"I do," Kristoff began, carefully. "But this is not the way to go about it. Look, why not free the Weselton prisoners first, let them see that you're kind and forgiving."

Elsa dismissed him with a wave. "Enough. Eirik will decide their fate. I will speak no more of this."

Kristoff bit a retort in. There was no sense pushing; if Anna couldn't convince her, he doubted he could. They'd just have to try again tomorrow, and the day after till Elsa relented. Kristoff exhaled a long and slow breath as he paced about. Had Elsa hidden the chairs or something? No matter. He plonked down onto the bed, feeling it sink under his bulk without the slightest creak. It was a fine mattress, probably filled with wool from Manbul ravine-sheep. Kristoff grimaced when he remembered he'd not changed his pants since morning.

Elsa seemed not to notice. "You have more to say." It was a statement, not a question.

Here we go.

"Anna told me about what happened in the market. Elsa, what's up with that?"

"I'm the queen. I do not answer to the likes of you."

Something insane took Kristoff then. "I am the Official Ice Master and Deliverer." He sat up straight. "It is my responsibility to know the ins and outs of Arendelle, Your Majesty."

The silence twisted knots in his stomach, but he said nothing else.

Rich, wet laughter escaped Elsa. She dropped down next to him and slapped his arm. "Atrocious! Who taught you to speak like that?"

In spite of himself, Kristoff grinned. "You did, actually."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously. 'The ministers are devouring you! Stand up to them, speak deeper and show your authority! You are a part of the court now!' or something like that."

"Not in that voice I did not!"

"Just doing what you instructed, Your Majesty."

She scowled. "That's enough. Call me 'Elsa'."

"You sure? You were bullying the boy at Stein's for not addressing you."

"I paid him enough for a week of cakes!"

"Well, okay, Anna missed out that part then."

Bitterness laced Elsa's voice. "That, and much more."

Kristoff opened and closed his mouth several times, feeling his throat tighten. She needs to know.

"Where's Anna now?" Elsa said, not quite masking the edge in her tone.

"She said she was going for dancing lessons…by Zerner."

Elsa's eyebrows rose. The last time Anna volunteered to the harsh master-at-arms' training was after a chat with the Southern Isles' ambassador, or in Anna's own words, 'when she felt like hitting something'.

"Hey, give her a day or two," he added quickly. "Besides, she could use some practice with a sword."

Elsa nodded stiffly. Her lips were set in a harsh line, and her fists clenched and loosened over and over.

She needs to know. Kristoff steeled himself, swallowing in a deep breath. He loathed robbing Anna of the chance to say it herself, but he hated what he was seeing now even more.

"Elsa, we found someone with magic in Weselton."

She blinked.

"You're not alone. We went to this terrible place, a prison hidden deep within the mountains, to find the person that Grandpabbie spoke of. It wasn't easy, but Anna did it all for you." Kristoff took Elsa's hands in his. "Her name is Freya. She's slightly older than you, and she has healing powers."

Elsa's voice was like a girl's, wracked with emotion. "I–I… this… Anna, Anna lied to me. Anna, my sister!"

"No!" Kristoff squeezed. "She didn't. Elsa, she wanted to bring Freya back. She wanted you to have a friend who shares the same gift of magic. Trust me, it's killing Anna not to tell you."

"Then why! Why didn't she?" The chill pierced his skin, but Kristoff held firm.

"Anna was trying to protect you. Freya is dangerous."

"So am I!"

"Freya's different. You–" –would never hurt your own sister, Kristoff nearly said, but the words never left his mouth. No… Elsa did freeze Anna's heart. An accident, but wasn't it the same for Freya as well?

"Elsa, you never meant to hurt anyone. But Freya killed."

"Maybe she had a reason to!"

"Doesn't change the fact that she's dangerous."

"You're condemning her as well then."

"No. I, well, was wrong to have left her there."

Elsa eyes grew wide, so Kristoff continued. "The truth is, we were rash. She lied to us, but I never really gave her a chance either. We can– we can do this properly, talk to the Weseltoners, and arrange for her to be pardoned or something. I want to save her. And I know Anna does too."

She looked at him with something akin to wonder. "You'd forgive Freya? Despite the terrible things she did?"

He thought, long and hard. "Yes."

The warmth returned to Elsa's hands. "Tell me about her. Everything."

Kristoff did. Every minute of their journey, every joke, every story they'd exchanged with Freya. The town she hailed from, the sister she loved, the villagers who attacked her, and the truth of her imprisonment and how she'd killed and stolen Christina's body.

Throughout, Elsa was the world's best listener. They ate biscuits from a tin, and sipped expensive tea that she chilled with magic. Hours passed in the blink of an eye.

…And suddenly, they were no longer talking about Freya but themselves. Elsa poured out her heart to him, her childhood, her loneliness on the North Mountain, her wish for death when Hans told her Anna had died. Many times she had to pause in mid-talk to compose herself. Such was the misery she endured, missing her sister so dearly it was like a piece of her heart was missing, yet the fear of hurting Anna again shackled Elsa to the blank, white walls of her room for thirteen years.

In turn, Elsa became the second person in the world to know that he became an ice harvester to live up to his parents' legacy. He told her about the adventures he had with Sven, the games he played with the trolls, and his life as an ice harvester. At one point after Kristoff recounted how an igloo he made collapsed within an hour of him sleeping inside, Elsa guffawed so hard she had to wipe tears from her eyes. Her laughter was music; she always had a sweet, shy giggle as though trying to subdue her amusement. Now, the snow queen was letting free.

Kristoff liked this side of her.

Elsa shifted closer. "You miss your parents, don't you?"

"Well duh, like how you and Anna miss yours. Only… they died when I was seven." The same year he found his reindeer companion.

"What happened?"

"It, ah, doesn't really matter."

"It does to me."

Kristoff wedged his eyes shut, sucking in air through gritted teeth.

The night was alive with howls. A maze of trees surrounded them, and the snow seemed to suck their feet down. Dad jabbed at him with a bloodied hand. "Go with your mother!"

"Dad! I can help!"

His father ignored him, instead pulling Mom into an embrace. Then he shoved her away. "Take Kristoff and run!"

"Dad, no! Dad–!"

"My love..." Mom said.

"Priska, I'll hold them off! Go! GOOO–!"

Her face was agony, but she kept an iron grip on his hand. Kristoff had no choice but to run with her. He didn't understand why Dad wasn't coming too.

Minutes later, the wail of a man rang through the air, then it cut off. Mom gave a whimper and sped up. Leaves whipped past them. Kristoff felt as though his arm was being pulled off. They ran and ran– till snarls came up all around them. Shadows flitted back and forth behind the darkness of trees, eyes glowing like demons.

Mom picked him up and pushed him against a thick branch. His arms encircled the rough bark on instinct. He waited for her to climb, but she never did.

"Mom?"

"Kristoff, don't let go. Whatever you do, don't ever let go. Mom loves you." She kissed his forehead. He could see the tears hanging over her eyelashes, could still feel her soft hands ruffling his hair. "Mom and Dad will always love you. Don't let go."

She fled, and the shadows tore after her. He closed his eyes to her screams.

The ice harvesters found him in the morning, near frozen onto the tree, still clutching the thick branch.

Elsa hugged him.

The breath caught in Kristoff's throat, and for a moment, he froze still as though he was back on that tree. His arms rose slowly, then curled over her back.

"I miss them," he choked out. His eyes were burning. "I should've helped them."

"Damn wolves."

"Damn wolves," Kristoff agreed. He let his weight sink into her and she patted his back. Her scent was pleasant, like gentle vanilla sprouting through an underbrush of winter, like the warmth of a crackling fireplace, like Anna…

Kristoff pulled back, feeling himself go red. They peered at each other uneasily.

Elsa broke the silence. "Thank you for keeping my sister safe all this time, and most of all, for telling me about Freya."

All the words he had tumbled out of his mind at seeing her heartfelt smile. Her bare shoulders. The fabric over her skin that was so sheer.

Kristoff coughed, snapping his head away. The urn came into his view. Yes, he was going to ask about that… He gasped when Elsa's fingers worked themselves under his chin.

"Look at me."

He did. So intense was her gaze that he couldn't look away.

A finger traced up his arm, sending tingles up his spine. "A scar," Elsa whispered. "How did you..."

"Axe broke when I hit a boulder. Stabbed into my shoulder. I got off lucky; could've been worse. Much worse."

"This one?"

"Slipped down a slope and hit against rocks. Couldn't use that arm for weeks."

"Do they hurt still?"

"Sometimes." Kristoff shifted her hand away gently. "When it's especially cold. Body's way of reminding me to be more careful next time."

"Kristoff, you are strong."

A voice in his head screamed 'move!' but it was so faint. His limbs were leaden.

"I'm not. I couldn't even save my parents."

"Some things are beyond our control."

He gave no reply, and she cupped his face. "Stop putting yourself down. You've been trying harder than any of us, learning court behaviour from Kai, weapons training from the guards, taking care of the stables, fighting for Sámi rights, yet you carry out your ice duties diligently. It couldn't have been easy."

All in the day of a Bjorgman! Kristoff would've said that any other time and beat his chest, but he was tired. Tired of being the tough one, tired of walling up. "I... am just a peasant." He chuckled bitterly. "Raised by trolls, with a reindeer as my best friend. Is it any wonder the ministers and guards despise me?"

"They are fools." Her words burnt with the ferocity of a red-hot poker. "All the men I've met in my life, none even measures up to you… the saviour of Arendelle. My champion." She looked at him then, in a way Anna never did. Eyes burning blue, lightly freckled cheeks, lips like roses, her dress glittering like a thousand gems.

Men whose eyes found the sisters often lingered longer on Elsa. Now he saw why.

Kristoff stood up, his heart racing. "I need to go."

Elsa got up as well. Only inches away, their eyes locked onto each other's. Kristoff was struck by the realization she was closer to him in height than Anna. They were of the same age too.

"I saw you as a child," the words slipped out his mouth. "The reason Bulda and Cliff adopted me was because I followed your family. I'm the one who owes everything to you. I wonder what would've happened if we'd met each other first."

"That doesn't matter anymore. Nothing matters except now." He was startled to see tears well up in her eyes. "Kristoff, I don't want to be alone anymore." Her hands twitched, as though she wanted to do something but was afraid to. She suddenly seemed so small and feeble. He'd never seen her so sad before.

At that moment, he yearned to pull her into his arms – to tell her she'd be fine, and that he would protect her always. He squeezed her shoulder instead. "Elsa, you aren't. We'll always be here for you."

He made to leave.

Kristoff inhaled sharply as pair of delicate hands slipped around his waist, and a slim figure pressed against his back. He quivered as she pushed her head into his shoulder. This close he could hear the whistle of her laboured breath, feel her body heave against his, and the wetness of her tears on him. Everything faded away; here and now, there was only the two of them in the world.

"Elsa–"

"Don't leave me… Don't leave me again, please."

Her skin was the colour of pure snow, but she was surprisingly warm.

"All this while you've done so much–" Elsa whispered.

Kristoff spun around in her embrace and closed his hands over hers.

"–And I've never thanked you."

He never finished his reply as Elsa leaned in and pressed her lips to his.