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Hours later, Alex stood at the port of Arendelle and pondered at what had upset Elsa, ‘Was it inadequate orderliness at the gala? Or was it Olaf’s antics? Or Anna’s, perhaps? Or noisy guests?’

The beauty of the Arenfjord helped him get his mind off things. Soon, Kristoff caught up with Alex. The lord donned a dashing black coat with a double gold aiguilette. He clearly looked more worried than Alex was. Noticing him, the sergeant turned around, stamped his foot, and saluted. “My lord,” he began, lowering his hand.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! No need for all that. I needed to ask you something: I need your help.”

“Sure.” Alex motioned toward the length of the port, insisting they walked. He moved with ease, and Kristoff tagged along. Knowing that Kristoff was uncomfortable in the atmosphere of formalities and etiquette, he asked him in the friendliest of ways, “What is it, Kristoff?”

Kristoff felt at ease. He started in a jittery voice, “Um, the thing is… I want to ask Anna the ‘big question’, but I can’t figure out how!”

Alex seemed puzzled. “The ‘big quest… Oh, I get it!” exclaimed Alex, realizing. He added, “She’s the right person for you. I wish you both a happy life ahead.”

Kristoff was uncertain, “What? You’re saying that already?”

“Yes! Well, of course, she will accept your proposal: she loves you!” Alex reassured.

Yet, Kristoff wasn’t convinced, “Yeah, but I’m not sure how to ask her in the most romantic way without messing everything up.”

Alex took a deep breath and began, “Well, out of what I’ve learned in the Royal Guard, I will tell you this—say what you really want to. As long as your intentions are good, it is best to declare them crystal-clear.”

Slightly relieved, Kristoff said with gratitude, “Thank you, Alex.”

Reaching the end of the port, Alex continued, “Especially for someone like Anna. She doesn’t like people beating around the bush.”

At the corner of the port, Kristoff smiled at Alex, “What would I do without you, friend?” Then, looking slightly irritated, he complained, “Hey, you have done far more for Arendelle than I could. And yet I am a lord, and you remain an enlisted man? This isn’t fair.”

“I was promoted once.” he began, drawing Kristoff’s attention to his three golden chevrons above the elbow that were now surmounted by a glistening crocus. “I must remind you that I serve in Arendelle’s royal guard, which is a privilege in itself. Besides, I’m a ‘Hero of Arendelle’, right?”

Kristoff argued, “But that’s beside the point! Why am I your superior? You know I’ll…” He briefly wondered and continued, “I’ll recommend Elsa to promote you to an officer… If that’s the least I could do.”

Alex found the idea repulsive. He protested, “No, no, no! Kristoff, please don’t do that.” With humbleness, he added, “A soldier never asks for a promotion; he earns it.”

Kristoff silently contemplated those words. At this moment, a guard arrived at the edge of the entrance to the port, came to attention, and informed, “Royal sergeant. You are required to report to the Lieutenant of the Royal Guard in five minutes.”

Alex acknowledged the guard, “Understood. You are dismissed. Thank you, soldier!”

Taking two steps back, the soldier raised his heels and returned, “Good day, color sarge.”

The guard left for the castle. Five minutes was not a long time.

“Good luck with Anna, Kristoff,” Alex told, preparing to leave. Instantly, Kristoff was reminded of his proposal.

“Wait, what if she says ‘no’?”

Alex decided that he was done pampering Kristoff. He replied in a severe tone, “Then I believe that is entirely your responsibility.”

Parting with his seriosity, he smiled cheerfully, “Bye Kristoff, see you!”

Kristoff returned a lifeless look. “Bye.” he was now much more confident but still worried.

Later, Kristoff walked with Sven through the marketplace.

“I know I can do it, but what if I don’t find the right words?” he asked his reindeer friend.

Speaking for Sven, he began, “Aww! Don’t worry, Kristoff, just be natural. You’ve got this.”

“Thanks, buddy! But what about the ring? And where should I propose to her?” he asked again as himself.

“Leave those details to me. In addition to the ring you got from home, it would be great if you bought her earrings too.”

“I didn’t think of that!” Kristoff was enlightened. “I knew I could count on you.”

Soon, they entered the jeweler’s shop. Sven pointed at a pair of Prussian blue earrings in the display box and huffed and snorted eagerly, looking at Kristoff.

“This one, buddy?” Kristoff asked. Sven nodded affirmatively.

“Nice choice. We would like this one, please.” declared Kristoff, turning to the jeweler.

Paying the jeweler, Kristoff left with the earrings in an elaborate black box, as Sven tagged along.

Not long after, the duo happened upon Oaken’s makeshift spa. Oaken smiled, standing there, looking expectantly at his prospective customers. His fingers tapped tip to tip, as usual.

“Hoo-hoo! Big party go-out? Get a pedicure and manicure to get a complimentary chocolate perfume of my own invention!” Oaken offered. Kristoff looked at Sven and considered, “What do you say, buddy?”

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“Why not? Today’s your big day!”

Kristoff moved over to the lounge chair and sat down. “You’re right, Sven.”

As Oaken clipped Kistoff’s nails after he took off his coat, Sven also decided to give Kristoff a free shoulder massage. After the spa session, Oaken presented Kristoff with a brown glass bottle.

“Mmm… It smells wonderful. Wait, Anna loves chocolate, right?” he asked his faithful reindeer friend.

“Yes, she does. Do me a favor, wear that perfume today evening.”

As himself, Kristoff thanked Sven, “That’s a nice suggestion, Sven. I’ll do that.”

Oaken was growing sick of waiting. He stood with his arms crossed.

“Give me my money, Milord.” He demanded. Oaken was an excellent person to have a talk to on any subject, save money matters. Kristoff knew that face—the same one Oaken made before chucking him out his trading post for calling him a crook. Even though a lord, Kristoff had to pay his forty bucks in full.

Elsa looked troubled at the town square across the bridge and wondered why the voice was calling her back at the castle. Alex looked out into the sea in the north from an empty hallway. While he didn’t have questions about why he had powers or where Ahtohallan was, a question from three years ago continued to haunt him: whatever happened to King Agnarr and Queen Iduna?

They were the ones who took him in and made him who he was. He just didn’t want to believe that they disappeared without a trace. Though Elsa and Alex were away from one another, they accepted that these precious days could never be frozen permanently, and change was on its way. Even so, they could still go out and seize this day!

Elsa ran out of the castle and found her sister in the town. She ran toward her. Both the sisters embraced. Olaf thought to himself, ‘Some things never change.’

The townspeople celebrated the reunion, while Kristoff and Alex only looked at the sisters, smiling contently. Sven feasted on his favorite carrots while Olaf played with the children.

It was time for the autumn harvest festival; tables and long stools from all over Arendelle were brought over to the central plaza. Olaf knew he couldn’t help the people there, as he was too short to pick up tables. So, he decided to help the fishermen. Unfortunately, they found him lesser help and more of a hindrance in their work: he threw all the fish being caught back into the water.

Long lines, with little Arendellian flags, were being pulled up all around the town. Anna wanted to help but ended up pulling at a cloth line with underwear instead. Later, Anna and Kristoff helped set up the table, after which Oaken placed a massive pumpkin on it.

After sunset, delicious food was arranged, and almost all of Arendelle dined together. Olaf even fed Sven a carrot after promptly showing him that it wasn’t his nose. After the feast, Anna ran ahead, leading Elsa to the flag post and promised their people that the flag of Arendelle will always fly. Anna bubbled with excitement as Elsa prepared to use her magic. In a flash, a burst of magic flew from Elsa’s hand and exploded in the sky like fireworks. The people put their hands up in celebration, enchanted. Alex and the guards saluted their flag. Everyone was sure that they will always live in this land of plenty that stood for the good and righteous.

Later, Elsa made little dolls for children. She got a smorgasbord of requests, ranging from a dinosaur and an ice bear to a naval navigation device—yes, the oddest of all requests was made by a little girl. Elsa found the demand for a sextant rather weird but made it for her anyway. By nightfall, everyone was back in the castle—all except Anna and Kristoff.

Just as Kristoff had wanted, he got some time alone with Anna—now was his chance!

They both sat on a bench below a willow tree in a splendid garden. Sitting at two edges of the bench, both of them stared into the waterfront. A tiny wooden boat floated at the shore. Little lights hung from the willow tree that lighted the place around Anna and Kristoff. Judging by the setting, Anna knew exactly what Kristoff was going to do. She wanted him to do it and waited for him to start.

Anna was nervous too, but not in the way Kristoff was. He sat up straight, and his face was slightly red. He had over-thought everything, so the timing and setting weren’t what he thought they’d be. Anna leaned over to him and smiled. Kristoff, too, returned the gesture, overcome with nervosity. He rested his hands firmly on his lap. To break the awkward silence, Anna started, “So, you’re a lord now.”

Kristoff shrugged and accepted, “Uh, yeah.”

Anna tried again, “And, here we are…”

In his brittle state, Kristoff almost spoilt the mood.

“Is it hot in here?” he wondered, trying to get air into his heavy coat.

“We’re outside.” Anna reminded, looking up.

Very unnecessarily, Kristoff rephrased, “Is it hot out here?”

Anna wasn’t getting the point of this. She tried to change the topic, “I don’t know, um… But I think it’s romantic.”

Kristoff responded, “Is it?”

Anna seemed confused, “Well, I thought, kind of…”

Kristoff realized that he had to take this forward. He began, “I mean, yeah! Uh… And here we are, and I’m feeling very… romantic, ‘cause it is romantic.”

Anna was happy that she had finally got Kristoff talking. She smiled and waited for him.

“And I guess… I… I… I wanted to ask you…” he continued nervously.

“Uh-huh?” asked an expectant Anna.

“Something…”

“Yes!” Anna was excited. However, she immediately restrained herself, “Okay.”

Kristoff couldn’t bring himself to do it. All of a sudden, he caught his belly, “Do you have a stomachache?”

Anna grew confused and worried, “No?”

“Did you have the fish?”

“Yes!” Anna replied as though it was apparent.

“’Cause I’m not feeling that well.” Kristoff covered his mouth as though he was about to throw up. Anna was concerned, “Do you need a bucket or something?”

Kristoff fought his urge, “No, no.” He asked himself quietly, “Why is this so hard?”

Anna was saddened when she overheard that. “This is hard?” she asked, heartbroken. Looking aside, she apologized, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to--”

Kristoff knew he was messing up.

“No, no! No, no. It’s not you. It’s me. The timing and the setting aren’t what I thought they’d be…”

Anna only gasped and grew more worried. Kristoff had started as though he was breaking up with her, unintentionally, of course. But then he remembered the advice, ‘Say what you really want to.’

And he told her precisely that—not about the proposal, but about how he wanted to get this entire thing right. Anna was relieved, happy that this was at least going in the right direction. Kristoff gave her a rose and then plucked a few more from a nearby bush. Soon, he uprooted the entire bush and offered it to her. Anna found the action both absurd and cute. But sadly, Kristoff had to throw up moments later. He lost that moment but kept his spirits high and expected that he’d do better at the candle-light dinner. Unfortunately, even that turned out to be a disaster.

He tried so many other things, but they all proved to be pointless. As a last resort, he considered pulling out the ring and putting an end to this nightmare. Alas, he forgot the ring too. Giving up, he said sarcastically, “So this went very well, good night!”

Walking away from Anna, he told himself, “I didn’t get this right…”

Anna pursued him, alarmed, “Kristoff! It’s okay, come back!”

Kristoff felt he had no idea of what he was doing and felt that in no way could he ask her the ‘big question’. But then he thought to himself, why he really liked Anna: about how she was gorgeous, funny, brave and brilliant. He told her all this, in addition to how she was beautiful and won’t give up on anyone.

Anna’s heart melted like butter hearing those sweet words, and she began to love him even more—it was working. Kristoff promised that he would love her forever and that in his heart, he had got that part right. But again, he decided to propose to her another night and began to shy away. Anna, on the other hand, had enough. She hated to wait for anything. Grabbing a rose from a nearby bush, she got down on one knee,

“Lord Kristoff of Arendelle, will you marry me?”

Kristoff couldn’t believe his ears. Without hesitation, he accepted. Quite embarrassingly for him, it was Anna who ‘got this right’. Promising that they would stay together forever, they had gotten the hard part over with. The pair embraced one another, kissing.

From a balcony in the castle, Elsa and Olaf watched them. “Aww!” exclaimed the snowman. “What do you think are the odds that he turns out to be a deranged murderer and tries to kill you like the last guy she almost married did…?”

Elsa looked both uneasy and concerned as Olaf’s comment abruptly changed the mood. He sure had a twisted sense of humor.