Price of Freedom

Chapter 5

A few days later, Kristoff and Sven were exploring a new region of the forest in the deepening twilight.

"Woah, watch out buddy," Kristoff cautioned to Sven.

The pair had reached a hill, overlooking a river running between the trees.

As Kristoff marveled at the river, Sven whined and turned to his left.

"What is it, Sven?"

Kristoff turned to look, and saw Elsa appear from the trees, walking close to the river.

He was about to call out to her, when he heard her singing.

"Do you want to build a snowman?"

He sat down and strained to hear every word.

"Come on let's go and play. I never see you anymore, I miss you more and more everyday."

Elsa sat down and leaned against a tree, making graceful motions with her hand. Suddenly, snow started to fall.

"Woah, what..." Kristoff whispered.

"I wish we were all together, like days before. What am I gonna do?"

Tears started to slowly fall down her face.

"Anna, do you wanna build a snowman?"

With a wave of her hand, so quickly that Kristoff almost believed he had imagined it, a snowman formed in front of her. It wasn't a standard snowman, but oddly shaped. Somehow, this gave it an extra charm.

Elsa stood up and softly touched the snowman on its head as she walked by it, into another region of the forest.

Kristoff and Sven gaped at the snowman.

What had they just witnessed?

Kristoff couldn't sleep. The snow, the snowman, had it been...her? He hadn't been paying much attention to his surroundings, so he hadn't noticed that the snow had been concentrated in one area until after Elsa had left.

But...how?

Kristoff sighed and turned over, leaning against Sven's side. Sleeping in the quiet forest next to a warn reindeer was much more comfortable than sleeping on a dungeon floor.

Speaking of dungeons, that girl...Anna? It just had to be a coincidence that she shared the same name as the princess' sister, right? Anna was a pretty common name...he hoped.

With a shiver, Kristoff closed his eyes, but still couldn't sleep.

How was he going to kill someone he was so drawn to?

"Anna, you're going to be late. Mama and Papa knew this would happen."

"Elsa, I told you, I'm staying here until I absolutely have to go!" Anna plopped her twelve year old self down dramatically onto Elsa's bed.

Elsa groaned, and rolled her eyes. "Anna, you're squishing me."

"No I'm not, you're just too big for this bed."

"Excuse me, are you implying something?"

"Yepp, all that chocolate's gotten to ya, Elsa." Anna smirked, giggling at her sister's frown.

"Do I need to remind you who almost threw up after eating six pieces of chocolate cake?"

"You mean you, right? Because I am a picture of sophisticated graaaace!"

"Mmhmm, sure." Elsa laughed a laugh so full of happiness, it seemed to bubble out of her.

Anna smiled at her sister's laugh. "Admit it, it was you!" Her fingers started tickling Elsa's sides.

"Anna, stop, that's not fair!" Elsa breathlessly laughed, and weakly tried to fend Anna off.

Anna immediately stopped, a look of shock crossing her face. "Elsa, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, just tired."

"Then sleep! Oh, I meant, -whispered- then sleep!"

Elsa laughed, "I can't!"

Just then, the King and Queen entered the girls' bedroom.

"Anna, it's time to go. Elsa, sweetheart, are you feeling better?" the Queen asked, resting her hand on Elsa's forehead.

"I'm fine, Mama." Elsa smiled, and closed her eyes at her mother's touch.

The Queen smiled a smile full of gentleness, and moved her hand to Elsa's cheek. Unconsciously, Elsa leaned her face into her mother's hand.

"Anna, your sister needs rest," the King gently chastised. He walked over to Anna and laid a firm, but loving hand on her shoulder.

"She's feeling better. So much better that she argued with me over chocolate cake!" Anna wrapped her arms around her father's waist, holding herself close to him.

The King and Queen both laughed, causing Elsa to open her eyes and to relax in the scene before her.

Suddenly, a horn could be heard blowing from the docks.

"It's time to leave," the King announced.

"I'm coming with you to the docks to see you all off," Elsa exclaimed, as she climbed out of bed.

"Sweetheart, you're sick. We can say our goodbyes here," the Queen reassured her.

"Mama please, I really do feel better."

The King and Queen exchanged a quick glance while Anna bounced up and down, moving her father with every bounce.

"Okay, but you'll take care of yourself and get better while we're gone, do you promise?" her father asked.

"I promise."

Anna and Elsa walked hand in hand to the docks, Anna dragging Elsa behind her.

"Come on, hurry!" Anna squealed.

At the boat, Elsa gave her parents a lingering hug, knowing that she would go crazy with longing for them.

Both of them hugged her, and kissed her on her forehead.

The Queen held onto her hand until it was time to leave, while the King assured her that she would be fine.

Anna, already teary-eyed, embraced Elsa. Elsa gave her a tight, one-armed hug, as she was still holding onto her mother's hand.

"Elsa, I promise to get you some chocolate."

"Anna, we have chocolate here too."

"Yeah, but it'll be different," she added with a grin.

Elsa gave her a wry smile, and teased, "Don't bump into too many people."

Anna countered by sticking her tongue out, but tears returned instantly.

"See you in two weeks," she whispered, embracing Elsa one last time.

With a final squeeze, the Queen let go of Elsa's hand, and turned to walk with her husband onto the boat. Anna skipped after them, reaching for her mother's hand and clasping it in one of her own.

As the ship set sail, the King and Queen smiled down at Elsa while Anna frantically waved goodbye.

"Elsa! Elsa!"

"What, Anna?"

"Wake up."