Nothing's in my way

Chapter 4

"Do you want some help with that, mister iceman?"

Taking advantage of the clothes that Rapunzel had given me, I walked calmly through the center of town watching its people, the children running through the streets, and, exactly at the same point in the market, Kristoff and Sven sharing a... 'Yuck!', super drooling carrot. 'I'm going to pretend I haven't seen that.' I stood next to him and offered my help with the wagon's junk with a grin from ear to ear.

Kristoff turned around with a start, and when he recognized me under that hat and with those braids so different from the elegant updo I was wearing when we met, his jaw dropped completely. Then, he quickly recovered and, with a crooked smile, he answered.

"I'm fine with you just don't disorganizing it."

"Hey! Is this how you're going to greet me?!"

He laughed heartily and I could feel some relief in the rhythm of his laugh.

"How did you do it?"

"I couldn't tell you if I've escaped or if I am actually free..."

"What?"

"But this is not the place to talk about that..."

"Are you coming incognito?" he said with a smirk.

"That's how it is. I don't want the guard to recognize me or... much less he!"

"Who?"

Hans the goodman had entered my field of vision and seemed to be desperately searching the area for something or someone. He was looking at everyone and his expression reflected a lot of frustration.

"Why isn't he already gone? Will be he looking for me?"

"Anna, who?" Kristoff asked with a concerned face.

I was betting I wouldn't get the same understanding from Hans that I got from Rapunzel and Eugene. I wouldn't be surprised if he tried to take me back to the palace. Well, I was not going to make it so easy for him.

"I don't have time to tell you now. I must hide!"

I jumped into the back of his wagon and, for the second time, I turned everything upside down. Then I covered myself as best I could with the junk and blankets that he had there and I saw through a hole how he himself helped me to cover myself.

There were a few minutes of silence in which Kristoff continued to "organize" his wagon while I wondered how I would know when to get out of there if I hadn't told him who I was hiding from.

"Where is she?"

'Hans's voice? Can't be! Has he seen me?'

"Sorry?" Kristoff replied calmly but with a somewhat annoyed tone.

"Do not play dumb. Where is Princess Anna? Last night she went with you, didn't she?"

"The princess? I don't know what the hell are you talking about."

'Wow, he also talks informally to Hans...'

"I'm not liking your tone, commoner. You are speaking to a prince."

"Don't you say..."

'I could hear Hans clenching his teeth.'

"Listen... ... ..."

"Kristoff."

"Kristoff... I have nothing against you. I am only worried about the princess. Yesterday she disappeared after arguing with her sister and we don't know where she could be. I know she has come to you; last night she was talking about you more than I would like. Tell me where she is and I will reward you handsomely."