DeFrosted

Chapter 23

(Kristoff)

Her voice filled my dreams like they did when I was unconscious, when that voice was my only companion in the weeks I spent in the dark. I had dreams of her every night since I left Norway. I guess my subconscious hadn't yet gotten used to the idea that I was no longer unable to wake up.

"Tell me about this princess of yours." The woman in the sea green dress asked.

"Anna?" I smile "She's beautiful." I grin like an idiot, picturing her in my mind. "But not just on the outside, the inside as well. She's gentle and kind and free spirited, and she's got this kind of innocence that's just breathtaking." "Oh really?" Asks the woman beside me, beautiful midnight blue eyes staring at me with curious question.

"Though her naivety can get her into trouble sometimes." I laugh. "When I first met her, she was in love with someone else. This guy she knew for like a day. Can you believe that?" I shake my head. "Anyway the guy... This 'Prince' turned out to be bad news. The whole shabang: lies, treason, attempted murder... It's a long list." Delilah laughs as I explain. "It's pretty funny to laugh at now..." I chuckled.

I wake from my dream. But instead of upon Delilahs warm quilted bed, I lay in my sleeping bundle on the hard frozen ground. Gone was the heat of the roaring fireplace, instead I received an icy blast of wind. Growing up as an ice merchant, I simply ignore it. The cold never bothered me anyway.

I had painstakingly snuck my way back into Arendale. Giving the horse I was riding to a barbarian guard at the border. A bribe Indeed, but one that was well worth it. Plus I was never comfortable on a horse. Something always felt off about it. You can't trust a horse like you can a reindeer. And no equine has ever been half as smart as Sven. So If I couldn't ride Sven, I'd much rather walk.

My thoughts drifted to him as I packed up my gear. I missed him terribly. He is my oldest and closest friend, I can only pray he's alright. When I had told Delilah of this deep connection I shared with my reindeer, she didn't laugh like Elsa, or give me odd looks like Anna did when she first met me. No, Delilah had told me that she understood. That she felt the same bond with Pompeii that I did with Sven.

Once packed, buried my fire in a blanket of snow. Covering my tracks. When I first arrived, I couldn't cross through the city, as it was overtaken with Vikings. The roads were drenched in them. But luckily my job has taken me through many a back road. I knew my way around the kingdom almost as well as any guide. I had never been to the castle up north though, as it was closed before I was old enough to deliver a wagon of ice that far away. But if my memory served me right I knew of a couple paths that led in what I assumed was the right direction.

So for the last 3 days I had been trudging through the forest, keeping out of sight of the many MANY enemy patrols.

The sun is just beginning to set in the sky when through the whiteness of the forest, I thought I heard a familer low pitched grunt. No it couldn't be... It's just my mind playing tricks on me. But then out of the tree line a familiar animal came charging into me, knocking me to the ground.

"Oh Sven, it really is you!" I cry, overjoyed. He licked my face repeatedly. "Sven, I missed you so much!" I exclaimed, hugging his thick neck. "Kristoff, buddy I missed you too!" I mimic. I always know what he would say.

Using his nose he pushes me to my feet and kneels his front legs into the snow. Signalling for me to climb onto his back. Thinking he might be trying to take me to Anna, I climb on. We gallop through the forest, till we reach a giant stone wall.

"Who goes there?!?" I hear a deep voice shout at me from the gate tower. I look up and see a set of Southern Isle guards aiming crossbows directly at me. What on earth are they doing here? "Wait wait wait..." An Arendale guard calls out. "That's Kristoff the official ice deliverer and courtier to the queen! Let him in!"

The giant gates are opened and I urge Sven inside. I find the remaining guard and the villagers staring at me with awe. I dismount and a young officer salutes me. "Officer Kristoff." He says respectively "I thought you were dead sir?'I saw you fall from the mountain myself?!?"

"Nearly did sergeant, nearly did." I answer. "Why is the Southern Isle guard here?" "The King of The Southern Isles was the only one to respond to our messengers, and send troops." He answers, still standing at attention.

"Where's Princess Anna? I need to see her immediately!" I order. "You mean the Queen sir?" My stomach turns as a flashback of the castle of ice crushing Elsa to death reminds me that Anna is now Queen. "Yes... Queen Anna." I sigh sadly.

The solider eyes downcast. "She's missing." "WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE'S MISSING?!?" I shout in outrage. The young solider flinches at my words. "She's been taken captive, by the Barbarians." "What?!? When?!? How?!?" I shout again.

"Anderson..." He calls into the group of villagers who had gathered at the commotion. A young stable boy sheepishly steps forward. "Explain to the Officer what happened last night" "Well sir..." The skinny young youth gulps. "I was asleep in my usual spot, when a commotion from that beasts..." He points to Sven. "Stall woke me up. This reindeer had broken out of his pen and Her Majesty was running after him. I helped The Prince from the Southern Isles to saddle his steed, and he rode off to look for her." The boy explained, refusing to meet the eyes of Kristoff. "After a few minutes I grew worried. I ran after him. I arrived just in time to see her Majesty and Prince Hans both surrounded by Vikings. They were both taken captive...."

I stood there, Stunned into silence by what I just heard. My poor, sweet Anna had been captured by these monster's. Another treacherous thought hit me.

"Wait..." I clutched my balled up fists to my side in rage.... "Did you say Prince Hans?!?"

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-Authors Note-

Ohhhh snap...

Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Sorry for the long wait, but work is killing both of us. #Grownupfanficwriterproblems As always, I look forward to hearing your reactions. And feel free to check out my other works if you liked this one. Lots of love -GeekPower1