Frozen Heart

Sourcery

"No, no. You've got the bark facing down," an angry man yelled at a little boy ran by, just enjoying the snow. "The bark needs to be face-up." He seized the wood and flipped it back onto the pile.

"Down is drier!" he argued, trying to grab the log, which only ended up with both of them pulling at it.

"Bark up!"

"Bark down!"

"Bark UP!"

The boy grabbed some of the firewood and ran back to his family. "Papa! Papa!"

Hans walked around the square, holding blankets and cloaks for the townspeople, wearing one of the cloaks. "Cloak. Does anyone need a cloak?" he called.

Gerda came over for one, smiling sadly at him. "Arendelle is indebted to you, Your Highness."

He returned her smile, then straightened, calling to the crowds, "The castle is open! There is soup and hot glögg in the Great Hall." He handed the rest of his load to a guard, instructing, "Here, pass these out." The guard nodded and began his rounds.

"Prince Hans!" The duke marched over, his arms around himself. Two guards followed him. "Are we expected to just sit here and freeze to death while you give away all of Arendelle's tradable goods?"

Keeping a cool head, Hans responded, "Princess Anna has given her orders. They have been confirmed by Lady Y/n."

"And that's another thing!" he exclaimed, dramatically pantomiming. "Has it dawned on you that your princess and her maiden may be conspiring with a wicked sorcerer to destroy us all?!"

Hans' pride now on the line, he narrowed his eyes and pointed at the duke, growling, "Do not question the princess or anyone that she trusts. They left me in charge. And I will not hesitate to protect Arendelle from treason."

Genuinely shocked, the duke jumped back slightly. "Treason?!"

Cutting their fight short, Kjekk came bursting through the gates, freaking out. Hans ran to him as he jumped on two legs, holding out his hands. "Whoa, whoa! Whoa, boy. Easy...easy..." He grabbed the reigns, trying to hold him back.

"It's Princess Anna's horse!"

"So where's the princess?"

"Is Lady Y/n gone, then, too?"

"Where could they be?"

"Where are they?"

Hans looked around at the people, all anxious for the girls, petting the horse. He then looked at the mountain, assuming that they were up there with the king.

"Princess Anna and Lady Y/n are in trouble," he announced to the citizens, handing Kjekk over to a guard. "I need volunteers to help me go find them."

One man at a time began to call out, offering to go.

"I'll go."

"I volunteer."

"I volunteer two of my men, My Lord," the duke spoke up. He lowered his voice, only speaking to the guards behind him. "Be prepared for anything. And if you encounter the king, you are to put an end to this winter. Do you understand?"

-

"So how exactly do you plan to stop this winter?" Kristoff asked as they went through icy mounds, colder in the shade.

"Oh, we are gonna talk to my brother," Anna announced confidently.

"That's your plan?" Kristoff demanded. "My ice business is riding on you talking to your brother?"