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Hours later, back in Arendelle, Alex regained consciousness. He was astounded by the sight of snow in summer. Getting to his feet, he moved toward the castle. As he walked quickly, he couldn’t sight a single Arendellian soldier. At vulnerable times like this, soldiers were usually on routine patrols. However, he did notice some troops from Weselton and a few others in slightly different uniforms, presumably from the Southern Isles. When he attempted to walk through the castle door, two foreign soldiers armed with spears blocked his path.

“Stop there! Who are you, and where are you going?!” demanded the guard from Weselton.

The sergeant angrily declared, “Royal Sergeant Alex of Arendelle. Now, let me through!”

The guard from the Southern Isles commented,

“Of ‘Arendelle’? That is not a valid designation.”

The sergeant asked immediately, “Why? Isn’t this Arendelle?”

Saying so, he pushed the wooden part of the spear away from himself and tried to force his way in. The soldiers resisted.

“Hey!” They weren’t going to let him pass so effortlessly.

The one from Weselton held him back, and hearing the commotion, two other soldiers from outside ran in and pointed their spears at him. Sergeant Alex glared at the man from Weselton and raised his hands in surrender. The men cautiously took him to Prince Hans.

The prince seated himself in the empty, dark hall where the party was held the previous night—he sat on the throne of Arendelle! Beside him stood the Duke of Weselton. The old man beamed like a Cheshire cat.

Prince Hans started, “Well, what do we have here?” he ridiculed Alex with a chortle.

Alex couldn’t stand the sight of the prince on the throne. Hans asked one of the soldiers, “Why isn’t this one in the dungeons too?”

The soldier answered, “Prince Hans, we did not catch him until he came to the castle door and attempted to walk right through.”

One of the soldiers who arrested Alex spoke up, “He introduced himself as the royal sergeant or something.”

Prince Hans spoke to Alex, “Yes! The royal sergeant! We’re good friends, aren’t we? We’ve met before. You were standing beside the queen, right?”

Alex glared militantly.

“Tsk, tsk. See, your entire army has been locked up in the dungeons. Unfortunately, there’s this one soldier who is persistent in trying to escape; he breaks free every now and then! And if you ask me, it’s a real pain catching this bull-headed guy over and over. If you name the dungeon cell that is the hardest to break out of, I will let you walk free, my dear friend. What do you say?” he offered, smiling carelessly.

Sergeant Alex understood Prince Hans’ clever trick. He grinned and answered as if he was cooperating well, “Prince, cell number eighty-eight is nearly impossible to escape.”

Hans chuckled and answered, “Very well, sergeant. Guards, take him away!”

Alex only returned a sardonic smile. Moments later, his belt, sword, and badge of rank were confiscated. He was thrown into the dungeon cell, and the door was abruptly shut.

“This is the easiest cell to escape,” he revealed. Taking a deep breath, he looked at the sun that had risen over the frozen fjord.

“The last prisoner took three days to escape. I think it should take me two,” he assured himself and began trying to remove the stone bricks.

Later, in the afternoon, Anna was still struggling to get up the mountain. She rode her horse through the deep snow, trembling because of the cold. She called out vaguely, “Elsa! Elsa! It’s me, Anna… Your sister who didn’t mean to make you freeze summer. I’m sorry. It’s all my f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-fault.”

She waded through the snow with difficulty. Moments later, she reached a wooded area. A chill ran down her spine, hearing a wolf’s howl in the distance. Almost gulping, she admitted to herself, “Of course, none of this would have happened if she told me her secret… Ha… She’s a stinker.”

A branch snapped and scared the horse to death. It kicked and bucked violently in fear. Anna went flying off and landed face down in the snow. Sitting up, she spat out the snow in her mouth and looked with dismay at the sight of her horse running away. She called out desperately, “Oh no. No. No. No. Come back. No. No. No. Okay…”

The horse had disappeared for good. Anna grabbed a branch of conifer and tried to get onto her feet. Unfortunately, the tree snapped, dumping snow and engulfing her. Groaning, she found her way out of the mess and continued on foot. She trekked until nightfall. The Northern Lights shone, lighting up the sky. Anna wasn’t enjoying the cold in particular. Frustrated, Anna complained, “Snow, it had to be snow, she couldn’t have had tr-tr-tropical magic that covered the f-f-fjords in white sands and warm--”

In an instant, she was wonderstruck. “Fire! WHOA!”

Smoke rising in the distance was a promising sight. Anna wanted to get there in a jiffy. But in her haste, she came tumbling down. She landed with a crash in a stream at the bottom of the hill. Even so, she got up and moved toward what now appeared like a small building and a stable. Her dress had frozen stiff.

“Cold, cold, cold, cold, cold…” she shivered, walking quickly toward the building.

Reaching the door, she dusted the snow off the sign and read aloud,

“Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post.”

As the smaller signboard unveiled itself, Anna read with excitement, “Ooh! And Sauna!”

Anna cautiously stepped through the door. It hit her from behind and knocked her into the center of the shop. She browsed and could only see summer supplies all around.

“Hoo-hoo!” called a cheery, musical voice from within the shop.

Anna turned and saw a bright-faced fellow sitting low behind the counter. His fingers tapped tip to tip. The man, presumably Oaken, continued,

“Big summer blow-out. Half off swimming suits, clogs, and a sun balm of my own invention, yah?”

Anna started, “Oh great. For now, how about boots: winter boots… And dresses?”

Oaken was slightly disappointed.

“That would be in our winter department.”

Anna looked at that side of the shop—one outfit, a pickaxe, and a pair of boots. She didn’t have much of a choice, but it would do. Anna went on, looking at Oaken, “Oh. Um, I was just wondering, has another young woman, the queen perhaps, I don’t know… Passed through here?”

As she brought the clothes and the boots over to the counter, Oaken confirmed,

“The only one crazy enough to be out in this storm is you, dear.”

The front door blew open, and in walked a mass of a man, covered in ice. Oaken added,

“You and this fellow… Hoo-hoo! Big summer-blowout.”

Anna tried her best to avoid eye contact with the seemingly unapproachable man. But he walked straight up to her and said in her face, “Carrots.”

Confused, she wondered, “Huh?”

“Behind you.”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Anna gave way, “Oh, excuse me.”

Grabbing a bunch of carrots, he tossed them on the counter and then began gathering his supplies. Oaken casually inquired,

“A real howler in July, yah? Wherever could it be coming from?”

The man answered, “The North Mountain.”

Anna thought and then reckoned, “The North Mountain.”

As he brought his supplies to the counter, Oaken counted, “That will be forty.”

Not convinced, the man bargained, “Forty? No ten.”

Oaken replied, sweet as pie, “Oh dear, that’s no good. See, these are from our winter stock, where supply and demand have a big problem.”

The man replied, “You want to talk about a supply and demand problem? I sell ice for a living.”

Amused, Anna looked out the window to see the ice blocks on a sled covered in snow. “Ooh, that’s a rough business to be in right now. I mean, that’s really--”

The man shot her a look. Taking that he didn’t appreciate it, she hesitated, “Ahem. That’s unfortunate.”

Oaken didn’t budge. “Still forty. But I will throw in a visit to Oaken’s Sauna. Hoo-hoo! Hi family!”

Both of them turned to look at Oaken’s family in the sauna, almost naked. “Hoo-hoo!” they chorused back.

The familiar-looking man pleaded, “Ten’s all I got. Help me out.”

Oaken isolated the carrots, “Ten will give you this and no more.”

Anna couldn’t resist her curiosity, “Okay, just tell me one thing: what was happening on the North Mountain? Did it seem magical?”

The man pulled down his scarf; he was none other than Kristoff.

“Yes! Now back up while I deal with this crook here.”

Oaken grew mad. He stood, revealing his seven-foot stature.

“What did you call me?” he wondered, looking offended.

Stomping out the door, he carried a snow-covered Kristoff in one hand. His head bumped on the signboard as he pleaded desperately, “Okay, okay. I’m- Ow! Whoa!”

Oaken threw Kristoff away, and his face planted in the snow.

“Bye, bye.” Oaken saw him off as he slammed the door shut. Kristoff sat up, and his reindeer, Sven, cantered over. He shorted and nudged him expectantly.

“No, Sven, I didn’t get your carrots.”

Sven huffed in his face, slightly dejected.

“But I did find us a place to sleep. And it’s free!” Kristoff pointed to a dilapidated barn nearby.

Back at Oaken’s Trading Post, Anna’s mouth hung open in awe as she witnessed Oaken squeeze back into the counter, sitting down low again. Oaken smiled and apologized, “I’m sorry about this violence. I will add a quart of lutefisk, so we’ll have good feelings. Just the outfit and the boots, yah?”

Anna didn’t respond immediately and looked between Kristoff’s supplies and the door.

Within Oaken’s stables, Kristoff and Sven settled down on a bed of hay. Kristoff played his lute and sang to Sven.

“Reindeers are better than people, Sven, don’t you think that’s true?”

Throwing his voice as Sven, he continued,

“Yeah, people will beat you and curse you and cheat you. Every one of ems’ is bad, except you.”

Kristoff smiled, “Oh, thanks, buddy. But people smell better than reindeer. Sven, don’t you think I’m right?”

As Sven, he responded, “That’s once again true, for all except you.”

Kristoff accepted, “You got me. Let’s call it a night.”

“Good night.”

Putting an end to it, he said tunefully, “Don’t let the frostbite bite.”

Anna walked right in, “Nice duet.”

Kristoff sat up with a start. “Oh, it’s just you.” he sighed in relief. “What do you want?”

Anna said immediately, “I want you to take me up the North Mountain.”

With a puckish smile, Kristoff made himself comfortable on the hay.

“I don’t take people places.” he clarified.

He lay back down and closed his eyes. Anna didn’t give up. “Let me rephrase that…” she began and tossed a sack of supplies onto Kristoff’s lap.

“Umph.” Sitting up, he looked in the bag. Anna restated,

“Take me up the North Mountain… Please.”

Kristoff eyed her and made it clear that he doesn’t take orders. Anna persuaded, “Look, I know how to stop this winter.”

Kristoff considered, went back down, and pulled his hat over his head. He replied,

“We’ll leave at dawn… And you forgot the carrots for Sven.”

Anna threw a second bag of carrots at him, which hit his face.

“Ugh!” he cried.

“Oops. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. I’m sorry, I didn’t--”

Suddenly, realizing that she had to get the job done, she restrained herself and commanded, “We leave right now.”

Saying so, she stepped back out and waited anxiously. Annoyed, Kristoff offered Sven a carrot and took a bite for himself soon after, contemplating.

Just as Anna wanted, they were racing to the North Mountain not long after. Sven galloped at top speed, pulling the sled. Kristoff manned the reins, and Anna sat beside him.

“Hang on! We like to go fast!” exclaimed Kristoff, trying to scare Anna.

Anna answered bravely, “I like fast!”

She leaned back and put her feet up on the dashboard of the sled. Kristoff was instantly alarmed.

“Whoa, whoa! Get your feet down,” he warned, pushing off her feet.

“This is fresh lacquer. Seriously, were you raised in a barn?” he asked as he spat on the dashboard to clean it. The spit flew right back and hit Anna in the face.

“Eww!” Anna cried in disgust. “No, I was raised in a castle.”

She wiped it off her face, and Kristoff went on,

“So tell me, what made the queen go all ice crazy?”

Anna started, “Oh well, it’s all my fault: I got engaged, but then she freaked out because I’d only just met him, you know, that day. And she wouldn’t bless our marriage--”

Kristoff interrupted, “Hang on. You mean to tell me you got engaged to someone you just met?”

Anna found it to be nothing out of the ordinary.

“Yes. Pay attention.” she carried on. “But the thing is that she wore the gloves all the time, so I just thought, maybe she had a thing about dirt.”

Kristoff wasn’t convinced; he cut right once again, “Didn’t your parents ever warn you about strangers?”

Anna eyed Kristoff up and down and slid away from him.

“Yes, they did… But Hans is not a stranger.” She argued.

Putting on a broad smile, he asked, “Oh yeah? What’s his last name?”

Anna hadn’t a clue, yet she answered, “Ah, ‘of the Southern Isles’.”

Kristoff followed up, “What’s his favorite food?”

“Sandwiches.”

“Best friend’s name?”

“Probably John.”

“Eye color?”

“Dreamy.”

Turning to her, he asked a tough one, “Foot size?”

Feeling ridiculous, Anna told him, “Foot size doesn’t matter.”

Kristoff took his opportunity, “Have you ever had a meal with him yet? What if you hate the way he eats? What if you hate the way he picks his nose?”

Anna was disgusted.

“Picks his nose?” she asked.

“… And then eats it?” he assumed, suggestively.

Anna protested, “Excuse me, sir, he is a prince!”

Kristoff proclaimed with a wide grin, “All men do it.”

Anna smiled back and declared, “But not Alex.”

Kristoff became worried, “Alex? Now, who’s that?” he wondered, genuinely concerned.

“That’s a long story: you know, he’s like… my guardian-best-friend, I guess?” Anna responded.

“Okay. Whatever. But this Hans guy? How are you so sure he doesn’t?” wondered Kristoff.

“Eww… Look, it doesn’t matter, it’s true love!” she exclaimed.

“It doesn’t sound like ‘true love’.”

“Are you some sort of ‘love expert’?” she inquired, annoyed.

He only shrugged and said, “No. But I have friends who are.”

Anna thought and answered, “You have friends who are love experts… I’m not buying it.”

Sven stopped; his ears perked in alarm. Kristoff warned, “Stop talking.”

Anna thought he was fed up. She went on, “No, no, no. I’d like to meet these--”

He clamped his hand over Anna’s mouth and asserted, “I mean it. SHHH.”

Kristoff stood up and looked around into the dark woods that surrounded them. Sensing something behind, he held up the lantern. Much to his misfortune, its light reflected off several eyes.

“Sven, go. Go!” he directed.

Sven took off quickly. Concerned, Anna asked, “What are they?”

“Wolves.” Kristoff confirmed.

He hopped into the back of the sled, grabbing a torch and lighting it. Anna started again, “Wolves. What do we do?”

Kristoff reassured, “I’ve got this. You just… don’t fall off and get eaten.”

“But I wanna help.”

He replied firmly, “No.” He did not convince Anna. “Why not?” she asked, offended. He confessed, “Because I don’t trust your judgment.”

Anna was enraged. “Excuse me?!”

A wolf leaped at the sled, but Kristoff kicked it off.

“Who marries a man she just met?” he wondered aloud.

Anna grabbed the lute and swung it right at Kristoff’s head.

“It’s true love!”

He screamed, but the lute swung past and hit a wolf away.

“Woa.” Kristoff expressed, shocked.

Just then, he was yanked away by another wolf. The torch went flying, but Anna caught it.

“Christopher!” she called out.

He grabbed a loose rope hanging from the back of the sled and held onto it for his life. “It’s Kristoff!” he corrected, being dragged along. A wolf jumped on Kristoff’s back.

“Ah!” he shouted. Anna thought fast and used the torch to set the blanket ablaze.

“Duck!” she warned as she threw the blanket right at him. Kristoff exclaimed, “You almost set me on fire!”

Anna reached out and pulled Kristoff back onto the sled. “But I didn’t.”

Sven cried out, and both of them spotted a massive gorge ahead.

“Get ready to jump, Sven.” Anna told the reindeer.

“You don’t tell him what to do!” protested Kristoff. He shoveled a satchel into her arms and scooped her up.

“I do!” declared a determined Kristoff.

“Jump, Sven!” Kristoff instructed when the time was right. He tossed Anna onto Sven and unlocked Sven’s harness.

Anna and Sven landed safely on the other side of the gorge. The sled lost momentum—it was not going to make it. Kristoff leaped off, flapping his arms and clawing at the air. Moments later, he slammed into the snowy edge of the cliff. His sled hit the ground far below and burst into flames.

“… But I just paid it off!” he wailed.

Soon, his grip loosened. He clawed at the loose snow but in vain. “Uh-oh. No, no, no.” An ax came flying at his face to make matters worse. “AH! NO, NO, NO!” he screamed in terror. It slammed into the snow, inches away from his nose.

“Grab on!” said Anna. Kristoff did precisely that and held on with all his might. “Pull, Sven! Pull!” encouraged Anna, as she pulled Kristoff up along with Sven. They managed to bring him up successfully. He rolled on his back and caught his breath, exhausted. Anna peeked down to look at the burning sled.

“Whoa… I’ll replace your sled and everything in it,” she assured. Kristoff only groaned. Anna continued, “And I can understand if you don’t want to help me anymore.”

Saying so, she walked off sadly. Sven came over and snuggled Kristoff.

“Of course, I don’t want to help her anymore. In fact, this whole thing has ruined me for helping anyone ever again.”

As Sven, he argued, “But she’ll die on her own.”

Kristoff responded, “I can live with that.”

They observed Anna go the wrong way through the conversation, turn, and go the other wrong way. As Sven, he said, “But you won’t get your new sled if she’s dead.”

Knowing that he has a point, Kristoff continued in his voice, “… You know, sometimes I really don’t like you.” Filled with joy, Sven licked Kristoff. He called Anna and informed her, “Hold up. We’re coming!”

Anna was excited. “You are?!” she asked.

Holding in her excitement, she continued, “I mean, sure. I’ll let you tag along.”