Price of Freedom

Chapter 1

The guards unlocked the door to let the prince in. Kristoff looked up from his corner, squinting in the light. The Prince of the Southern Isles haughtily smirked down at him.

"Leave us alone," he told the guards, without a backwards glance.

He walked forward and bent down on one knee in front of the prisoner. Although he was now on the same level as Kristoff, he still gave off an air of superiority.

"I have a proposition for you." He carefully drew out the words, testing Kristoff's reaction.

"I don't have anything to do with you," Kristoff mumbled.

"Ah, but you did burn down the barn of a royal."

Kristoff flinched, remembering the incident. He had nowhere to stay during the cold, winter night, and had thought to seek refuge in a barn. He had believed he would be able to leave before daylight, he just needed a place to keep himself warm. However, his plan had been foiled when he knocked a lantern over in his sleep, causing the barn to catch fire. He hadn't even had a chance to explain before the guards threw him in prison.

Now it was May, and had been half a year since he had been imprisoned.

"If you do me this favor, I will grant you your freedom." The prince smirked as he said this.

Kristoff slowly turned from the prince and looked down at the floor. After a minute of thinking, he looked the prince straight in the eye.

"What'll I have to do?"

The prince gave him a half grin, and whispered, "Kill the princess of Arendelle."

Kristoff blinked and retorted, "What makes you think I'll kill an innocent girl?"

"I know people will do anything to guarantee their own freedom," the prince replied.

Kristoff sighed, and hung his head in his hands. To kill a girl, a princess even, seemed preposterous. But he had been locked up unfairly for half a year. Why shouldn't he grasp this chance at freedom?

"Fine," he mumbled, "I'll do it."