When Fire And Ice Meet

A Royal Gathering

Time passed, and Princess Anna and Kristoff's marriage day drew closer and closer. The weather slowly but steadily began to get warmer, and the snow started to melt.

One particularly beautiful sunny day, Olaf insisted on having a picnic. Anna eagerly agreed, so she and Olaf packed up a lunch and along with Elsa, Kristoff, Sven, and several guards, they traveled into the hilly, tree covered land not far from Arendelle Castle. As they traveled along the long stone bridge that led to land, Elsa caught sight of a solitary figure ahead of them.

"Good day, Alex!" Kristoff greeted him affably.

The man looked up and gave the group a smile that caused a strange warmth to spring up in Elsa's chest. There it is again! she thought, frowning down at her horse's mane. When she finally looked up, Alex's eyes were on her, just as she'd suspected.

"Good morning," he said. "Where are you all going this fine morning?"

"We're going on a picnic," Anna said, bouncing in her saddle eagerly.

"And we have salami sandwiches!" Olaf added. He was sitting on top of a picnic basket that was strapped in behind Anna. "Wanna come?"

"Oh...uh..." Alex looked started. "I'm just a servant. I wouldn't want to intrude. Besides, I'm going on a hunting trip."

"Could you just eat lunch with us first?" Olaf begged.

Alex looked questioningly at the others.

"That's fine with me," Kristoff said with a shrug. Anna nodded graciously. Elsa just fiddled with her horse's mane.

They chose a spot on a hill from which the castle was visible. The guards stationed themselves at a respectful distance, and after a while the little group forgot they were even there. Olaf cooed over some flowers that had poked out of the ground early. Sven munched happily on some carrots. Kristoff, Elsa and Alex relaxed on several spread blankets and watched while Anna pulled food out of the hamper.

"Here's some mini cakes I asked Gerda to make especially for us," she said, placing a plate of them within reach. She then handed out some fruit that was in season and finally the salami sandwiches. Elsa took dainty bites out of her sandwich, but Anna ate heartily. After a while her eyes traveled to Alex. "What's that?" she asked, pointing to a pouch that hung around Alex's neck on a string.

"Oh." Alex fingered the pouch. "I've got a bad allergy to something. I've never been able to pinpoint exactly what it is, but I know it must be very rare. I just had a few bad attacks when I was younger. I might not even be allergic to it anymore, but just in case, I keep some dried ginkgo leaves in this pouch. They're supposed to help."

"Okay. I'm glad I'm not badly allergic to anything," Anna said, biting into one of the cakes.

"Yeah. I think one brush with death is enough," Kristoff said, resting a hand on Anna's shoulder. She smiled at him, her mouth full.

Elsa reached for the last cake, which looked forgotten on the mostly crumb covered plate. But a different hand made it first.

"Oh...did you want this?" Alex stammered. "Here. You can have it." He put it back on the plate.

"No, that's fine. I didn't really want it."

"But it wouldn't be right for me to take it if-"

"I'm good," Elsa insisted.

"Alright." Alex gave in and took a bite. "These are just so good," he said apologetically. After a moment, he scooped up his bow and quiver and got to his feet. The guards eyed him warily, but Alex simply waved at Elsa and the others and walked off into the trees.