Nothing's in my way

Chapter 10

"Finally gone..."

I went not unnoticed the peace that emerged from Kristoff's almost whispered words as we watched the ship, on which Hans set sail, as a prisoner accused of treason against the crown, depart back to the Southern Islands from where he should never have left.

"Relieved?"

"Quite relieved."

His frankness always managed to get me a smile.

"You know? It would've worked."

"What would do?" he asked not following the train of my thoughts.

"The kiss we didn't get to share. It would have worked."

Kristoff's cheeks lit up and I couldn't help but laugh slightly. Since I met him I had seen him blushed almost longer than unblushed.

"Should I have done it? At that moment I felt that you needed more to feel your sister's love. I know it's important to you. You've been yearning for it for many years. Although well, in the end, you were the one who self-thawed... But that doesn't mean she doesn't love you! It's just that... the situation didn't occur to..."

"I would have preferred your kiss."

Kristoff looked away and scratched the back of his neck.

"I'm sorry, I..."

"No. I do sorry. I was the one who looked for a B plan. Of course, it was true that I believed that Elsa could save me, but... if I didn't kiss you was because I was scared of what would happen if it...didn't... work out..."

"That you would be saved by Elsa?"

"And then? Would you still be by my side knowing this it's not true love?"

He didn't say a word, just made an understanding face.

"We just met and... I couldn't be sure that I wasn't wrong about us and..."

"Okay, Anna, I understand. You don't need to apologize."

"But I do know now!"

"Huh?"

"I have no doubt that the love I feel for you is true."

His eyes widened almost too wide and it seemed he was the one turned to ice.

"Oh! I know! I know! We'll ask Elsa to freeze my heart again and I will show you!"

The stiffness of his posture suddenly disappeared and he burst into a great laugh. Then he lifted me up into the air and when I touched down again he spoke to me with a wide, fresh smile.

"Anna, I don't need to unfreeze your heart to prove that this is true love: I have my whole life to prove it."

He took my face gently in his hands and, for the first time, he didn't wait for my approval; I think it finally became clear to him that he had always had it. He pounced on me passionately and carefully at the same time, and this time we did merge into a fiery kiss.

I'm not going to give details, I don't want to make you envious, I will only say that it didn't unfreeze my heart, it melted it completely.

From that day on, with almost complete control over her powers, Elsa returned to the castle, opened the doors, and gained the trust of the kingdom and her allies. I returned to the castle as well, but not without dragging Kristoff with me with the lame excuse that the queen couldn't have one of her subjects living out in the open in the middle of the mountains. Elsa, grateful for her help, gladly accepted him and the service seemed delighted to have him there as well. The only one who really put up any resistance was him but, as I supposed, he ended up giving in to the poor princess's pleas that she wouldn't be able to sleep at night out of worry if he stayed far from her. Of course, Sven and Olaf were also warmly welcomed in the castle, although the two tend to go quite their own way.

As for me, I have the pleasure to tell you that, lately, life has been quiet, but not boring. Except for commitments I can't avoid as a princess and his work outings, Kristoff and I spent the whole day together. Often we go together on a hike in the mountains or to see new places. We have even visited the kingdom of Corona to suffer the constant hints of Eugene. And, although Elsa doesn't know this, from time to time, we go back to that little filthy hut in the mountain where we eat sandwiches, dance close together, and pick up things where we left them off that busy day.

And, regarding Elsa, we have been strengthening ties again little by little. She even is becoming closer to Kristoff: not even the Snow Queen has been able to resist the warmth of his closeness. On the other hand, she works tirelessly striving every day to make things go well in the kingdom. She surely feels grateful for everyone's understanding and acceptance.

Watching her working I feel really proud and a little guilty for not helping more than I do, but, above all, I hope I never have to reign; I don't see myself dedicated body and soul to serving Arendelle. Obliviously, I love my land but, well... getting up early is not my thing. Anyway, I try not to think about it too much, what's the point of worrying about something that won't happen? I mean, what could occur? That she leaves everything and goes to live in the forest as a hermit? Come on, we're talking about Elsa! That would never happen!

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Right?