She had gotten up before sunrise and had gone to Elsas' office for their morning session. Elsa seemed sad and distracted. She barely acknowledged her presence. When she asked, she only looked down and shook her head. Further prompting had led to a slightly forceful "Not now, Anna!" Her eyes were slightly red and puffy. She had assumed it was from sleep.
Breakfast had been unseemly quiet as well. She had tried for some light conversation, only to receive mumbled responses, if any. In the better light afforded by the dining room, her sister looked terrible. Like she had cried herself to sleep. Anna doubted if she even slept at all. Elsa was only picking at her food. Not eating a bite. Anna needed to get her to talk. She had to try.
"Elsa? What's wrong? PLEASE! Tell me!" Elsa sighed heavily, looking down in her lap. She lifted her gaze slightly, looking at the empty chair to her right. The one Hiccup would be sitting in, if he were with them.
"Hiccup and I…" She stopped, sighing heavily again. "He, -I, -We, -argued yesterday, and, and- I don't want to talk about it!" She stood suddenly. Her chair slid back a few feet. Anna could feel the temperature wavering. Frost was swirling about her. She stormed out of the room. Anna put down her fork and made to follow. When she got to the door, she nearly slipped and fell. She looked down and saw a thin coating of snow over the carpet. She peered around the corner. Elsa was still stomping away. Frost and snow trailing her. This was bad, very bad.
She walked to her own chambers to change for the morning meetings. She had tried to reason this out. She and Kristoff fought from time to time. But they had always made up. This could have been something serious. But then again, Elsa was not as, -experienced with men and relationships in general. And somehow, she just couldn't picture Hiccup angry. Not angry enough to elicit such a response from Elsa. That must be it, she thought. Something minor, and Elsa was just having, -difficulty dealing with it. Come to think of it, it may well be their first argument. At least, the first she had heard of.
She made it to her room and entered. She was thinking of the last time she had seen Elsa so upset. She thought and thought. She had it! It was that one prince from… Bertois! Prince Bannatyne! He was very handsome, and well connected too! Elsa was very interested, and had spent some time -alone, with him as well. It didn't work out, in the end. Elsa was crushed. It took a lot of work to dig her out of that mess.
She sighed. Poor Elsa! She hoped she wasn't destined to be alone her whole life. Hiccup was different though. She had fallen for him sure, but he had fallen for her as well. She could see it, plain as her nose. She made up her mind to talk to the both of them. Then get them talking to each other again. They loved each other after all. How hard could it be?
"-cess? Princess?" She was stopped in her thoughts as Hilde, one of her handmaidens, was trying to get her attention. She indicated a small, cloth-wrapped package on the table.
"We found this on your balcony this morning. There is a letter attached to it. Who would be giving her presents? She thought. Kristoff immediately came to mind, but he would have given it to her. Not left it on the balcony… She walked to the table and picked it up. There was a small amount of weight to it. She unwrapped it, and in her palm, were two medium-sized earrings.
They were of an excellent quality of silver. A lacework of tiny sliver wire surrounding flat teardrop-shaped stones. They were black in color, but as she looked, they appeared translucent. Each one was about an inch long, and three-quarters of and inch wide. She picked one up and dangled it from its' hook. Some of the sunlight was indeed passing through it. Looking closer, there was a random, swirling pattern of darker blue, with a tiny bit of iridescence to it. It almost was the deepest, darkest purple she had ever seen. She loved them! She was already coming up with ideas on which dress to wear them.
She then considered the letter. She picked it up. Her name was on one side, written neatly and precisely in charcoal. The other had a wax seal. She looked closely at it. She had seen that design before…"Hic, -Hiccup?" Now she remembered! It was the same design as on the buckle of his sash. She could never make out just what it was, or what it meant. Why would Hiccup… She opened the letter and read…
Anna,
I hate to be going like this. I would rather tell you in person. As things are, This is the way it must be.
Elsa and I have had a disagreement. I will leave it to her to give you the details. She has sent me away. Do not be very harsh with her, as I am sure she was only looking out for you and her kingdom. She did not seem to understand my explanations, nor my reasoning's. She was rather put out from the days' events. She loves you very much. She would do anything to keep you safe, even if it means unhappiness for herself.
I was an only child growing up. I had a cousin, but he would beat me up and call me names when we were younger. Things are different now. I have seen the way you and Elsa are with each other. I realize how much I missed not having a sibling. Some one who supports me, and makes me laugh when I do not even feel like it. If I were to have a sister, I would want her to be just like you!
I sincerely hope that when all this is over, we can at least be friends. I shall write to you often, and I hope you will invite me to your wedding. Do not be too hard on Kristoff. We men are in a constant state of flux when we meet someone special. Too afraid to commit, too afraid to let that someone go. Too afraid to admit we are afraid… It is just they way we are.
I have left you a gift. Again, I wish I could give it to you in person. I made them myself. The "stones" as you would have them, are very rare. Except where I come from. Suffice to say they are a piece of my best friend. A fitting gift for my best friend. I hope you like them.
I am still planning to go to Corona and visit with Rapunzel and Eugene. I made them a promise, and she insisted. I am not sure how long I will stay there. My time grows short. I am not sure if I wall be able to stop in Arendelle on my way back. Given the current situation, i am not sure that is possible.I will try, even if I can only stay far a little while. My mother would skin me, salt my hide, and make me wear it if I was late. Not a very pleasant idea. I am sure you would agree.
I love Elsa very much. It will be hard for me to go on without her. I hope this situation can be cleared up. I can understand. Going against everything you believe is not easy. I did that when I was younger. I came to know everything I had been taught was wrong. I was able to use that knowledge to change peoples' lives for the better. I hope she will be able to see that as well.
I will miss you both. Please tell your sister that I love her, so very much. I hope I can see you two once more before I start my journey home. Goodbye, for now.
Yours Truly,
Hiccup
She read it once, then again, just to be sure. It all made sense. Elsas' sadness and -distraction! Oh! -Oh my! This was bad indeed! She had to get to the bottom of this! She wasn't going to take no for an answer! Snow Queen or not!
She strode down the hall and opened her door. While her room faced the fjord and the ocean, Elsas' faced the courtyard and the town beyond. Elsa was sitting on the bed, her hands folded in her lap where her gaze was fixed. Her face was wet. She immediately took pity, but there was a more pressing matter at hand.
"Elsa? What, what happened? What did you and Hiccup argue about?" She knew little of the incident the other day. She seemed to have been frightened, but hadn't said much about what had happened.
"Not, not now! Anna, PLEASE! " Her voice wavered. A tear fell from her cheek.
"YES! ELSA, NOW!" She didn't want to raise her voice, but nothing was seeming to work. Elsas' head shot up. She glared at her like she had never seen before. Her eyes glowed slightly. The snow and frost began to slowly swirl again.
"ELSA! Hiccup is GONE! Now tell me what happened!" Her glare stopped instantly. Her eyes went wide and her jaw dropped.
"Gone? What do you mean GONE!?
"As in not here! Nowhere in the kingdom! Hilde found this on my balcony this morning, This was attached to it!" She held out the small package, then the letter. Elsa snatched the letter from her and read. As she did, her reactions grew. She drew a hand to her mouth. She sucked in a breath.
"Aaahhh!" Was her pained cry. More tears began to fall. She sucked in another breath. "NO! no, no, -no! " Her voice was growing weaker. "Hiccup!" Her breath hitched. She was choking sobs now.
"Oh! oh, Hiccup! NO! Anna!" She looked up from the letter. She could feel her sisters' heart breaking. As if it were something tangible. She felt her own heart break at the sight of her. She felt her own eyes stinging. She sat down on the bed next to her.
Elsa spun herself around, and buried her head in Annas' lap. Wrapping her arms around her waist. She cried openly. Anna took her left hand and rubbed her arm, the other smoothed Elsas' hair. A few teardrops of her own dropped in her sisters' hair. "Shhhh- -shhhh" She was trying her best to comfort her. The swirling snow had increased a little, she began to worry. It wasn't much colder, she took it as a good sign. She continued to shush and rub her arms and smooth her hair.
After a few more minutes, Her sobbing had decreased to a few whimpers and sniffles. "Elsa?" She said softly. Her skirt was soaked, but she didn't care. Vilgjerd, the handmaiden stood in front of her, holding a small package. She tilted her head in the direction of the balcony doors. Anna nodded at her taking the package. Anna mouthed her command to leave them. Vilgjerd dipped respectfully, and left silently. "Elsa?" She said again. She was down to a few sniffles. She sat up, wiping her tears with her sleeve. She held out the package.
"He, -he left something for you too!" Elsa took it and opened it with shaking hands. She took out its' contents and placed it in her slightly cupped hands. It was a brooch. It was much the same design as her earrings, but the stone it held was twice as big. Lacey threads of silver encased it. She turned it over. There was a large pin on the back of it. She could wear it separately, or use it to fasten a cloak. She turned it over again, and let it rest in her hands. She lowered them to her lap. "Hiccup…" She whispered. Her breath hitched, and she sniffled. She closed her eyes, another tear fell.
"Elsa?" She said gently. "What happened?" The snow was dissipating, -slowly.
"The, the other day, my day off? I, I went to my castle on, on the mountain. When I got there, There was this, - roaring! Snowflake was, -wasn't at the -door. I ran upstairs and there was this, this dragon there! There was a, man with it too! I, I thought there was going to be a fight, But, the man seemed to be trying to, to calm Snowflake." Anna gasped.
"A dragon! What did it look like?" That would explain why she seemed so frightened!
"It, -it was black. And it had wings like, like a bat! It had a long tail, sharp teeth. It had f-four short legs, and its' eyes… its' eyes were yellow-green." She shivered a little.
"Woah! And, and the man?" She asked.
"He, he was tall. He was, -skinny, but not frail. He wore. this. strange. Armor! I have never seen anything of its' like! He had a mask over, over his face. And he held this sword, it was, on fire! He held it up, but he didn't seem to be -threatening with it."
"Did they attack you, or… threaten you?" This was some tale! She wondered why she hadn't told her this…
"No, -no. They just… As, -I was ready to strike them with, with my magic, and as soon as he saw me he, he -jumped on the back of the dragon and flew off!" She turned her head to the side frowning.
"Woah…" She strung the word out. It seemed, -exciting! Flying! On a dragons' back! She could only begin to think of all the places she would go!
"So… I came back, and sent search parties throughout the area, looking for it. So it could be destroyed…"
"Why?" Anna asked. Elsa looked at her incredulously.
"WHY? They are dangerous beasts Anna! I, I cannot even think of trying to deal with something like that!" Anna frowned, thinking.
"OK, So… you and Hiccup? What happened there?" She was starting to piece -something together now, or so she thought…
"After the search parties returned, I saw Hiccup. I was so relieved! I, I was worried about him! But then he started asking me about dragons. What I thought, why I was hunting one. -It was, strange! Then he told me he had one! A dragon! Here! Well not here! But he, he said it was… nearby…" She trailed off. Maybe she was thinking the same thing…
"So, what did you tell him? When he told you about his -dragon?" The picture in her mind was growing a little clearer now.
"I, I told him the dragon had. to. go…" She frowned a little looking away.
"Why?" It was a simple enough question. Elsa looked at her again, dumbfounded.
"Why!? They are dangerous creatures Anna!" She was shaking her head.
"This one wasn't, and neither was Hiccups' dragon!" It was her turn to look at her sister that way. She shook her head again. "Anna?"
"Elsa! Back this up some. Hiccup was here, two weeks? Maybe three? And there wasn't a single sighting! Nothing burned, no one attacked. During that whole time! And thinking about it, he was either working in the blacksmiths', or spending time with us! Again, no one attacked! No burning -anything!" Elsa was looking at -nothing. She was obviously thinking it all out.
"Aaannnddd, if you think some more, he had said he was protecting someone! Elsa! He was more afraid of us hurting the dragon than he us! Don't you see?" She had to hand it to him. Hiccup was loyal. He would suffer his own discomfort, and squash his own desires to protect his… friend? His best friend! AHA! It seemed to dawn on her as well…
"What, what did he give you?" She asked. Anna produced the cloth and opened it. Elsa took one earring and held it up. She then brought up her brooch, and compared them side by side. Looking at one, then the other."They're, -they're -beautiful!" She set them carefully in her lap. She took the letter and scanned it, focusing on one section in particular. He eyes went wide suddenly.
"Scales!" She said. Anna frowned. "They're, -DRAGON SCALES! A, -a part of his best friend! These are. his. SCALES!" Anna picked up an earring, Elsa held up her pin. Slowly, Anna could see it! It was a really sweet gesture, and a really beautiful and rare piece of jewelry. If he were here right now, She would break a couple of ribs from the hugging! Elsa brought the brooch to her chest, clutching it. Then looked at her. Her sadness was returning.
"Oh Anna! What, -what have I done! Why couldn't, -why didn't I trust him? OH!" She stood quickly and started pacing. Her eyes closed. A few tears leaked out. "Anna why? -How, how could I DO this to him? Oh! Hiccup!" She breathed his name. The snow and frost started swirling again. She had to distract her.
"Elsa! Calm down! What exactly did he say?" She stopped for a moment. She frowned thinking.
"He, -he said he couldn't, - he wasn't a, a pet. He couldn't send him away. And, and the dragon couldn't fly with, without him… And he… The dragon was, his, -his best friend! Oh! Anna! He was laying it all out! Why? Why… Why couldn't I see…" She closed her eyes. The snow swirling in earnest. The temperature fluctuating, Elsa was still in control, but only just.
"Elsa, calm down! We, we can work this…" She was cut off.
"I, I have to go!" She opened her eyes and looked at her. Her pain was returning. The storm inside was building once more.
She stood and took a few tentative steps. "Elsa?" She reached out, but was hesitant. Unpleasant memories sprang forth, but she squashed them. Elsa was different now. She learned her lesson…
"NO! Anna this, -this is different. I, I have to, to release this or… I, I don't want to hurt anyone!" PLEASE!" She was worried, but she had learned so much more about her powers. She felt Elsa knew what she was doing, a little…
"OK, just… Elsa? I love you! And so does Hiccup! He, he said he would try, -to come see us? Please! Just, be careful!" She gently touched her arm. It was freezing! She worried again. Elsa gave her a small smile, then quickly left. She heard a woman's voice from the hallway. Catarin entered the room, a quizzical look on her face. "Princess?"
"Lady Catarin! Call the whole council to the office in thirty minutes! Reschedule Court for tomorrow! I will handle the affairs of the kingdom until the Queen returns!" Catarin was taken aback a little from her Princess' tone. She dipped respectfully "Yes Princess!" And dutifully left. She went back to her chambers. Her hand maidens waiting. She was quickly dressed and primped. She quickly ran through the schedule in her head. It would be harder than the day before, but she would manage. She would see about getting a message to Corona. She would ask Hiccup to PLEASE return. Dragon or no. If anything she would talk to him. She understood now why he acted the way he did. She loved him even more.
She reached the office and sat down behind the desk. She drew out a piece of parchment and a quill. She thought for a moment, and started writing. When she was done, she dried, then folded the letter. Then wrote his name on the outside. Just in time too, for the council started filing into the room as soon as she finished. They showed varying degrees of surprise at seeing her and not the Queen. She sealed the letter as Kai entered the room. He bowed, "Princess?"
"Kai? How quickly can we get a message to Corona?" He furrowed his brow. "Two days your Highness! Given favorable winds." She nodded.
"See to it that this is delivered to Chief Haddock immediately, as in, yesterday! " He bowed again, taking the letter.
"At once! Princess!" He turned on his heel.
"Oh! And Kai? Please send for Master Bjorgman. I think I may need him here." She gave him a sheepish look. To his credit, he merely bowed and quickly left. She turned to the council. There was hushed conversation. She straightened, and held her chin up. Like she had seen Elsa do. She cleared her throat.
"Gentlemen, Lady Catarin, There has been a… change in plan. The Queen and Lord Haddock have had a, -disagreement. Centered around the -incident with the dragon." A collective breath was drawn. Concern showing on their faces. She forged on.
"Lord Haddock has gone to Corona to speak with our Uncle. If anyone should ask, this is a minor squabble. A -lovers' spat, if you will. I will leave it to the queen to handle the details." More hushed comments The General spoke.
"But Princess? The, -courtship? The proposal?" Did she imagine? Or was there a slight waver in his voice? That tough old…
"-Is still on. As long as I can get word out, and they do not do anything stupid… Or crazy! Please! I wish to keep this a private matter between them! I ask you all for your support, -and your help. I, I know I don't know as much as I should, but I can do this. I will need to, once the queen leaves for Hiccups' homeland." There were nods of agreement. Good! As long as they didn't do anything crazy or stupid, she would be fine.
"Now! What is on for official business?"
She paced back and forth, mentally berating herself. How? How could she not trust… Oh! It was a terrible mess. He must think her a horrible person!
She had been up here several hours now. The sun was settling on the horizon. She didn't want to leave Annas' side, but she could feel herself slipping. She did not want a repeat of her coronation. She was not a scared girl, but a grown woman now. She knew she was at a tipping point. She needed her sisters' comfort. But she had felt her emotions, her powers taking over. She had to release some of this to the ether, least she destroy something, -or someone she loved.
The clouds roiled above. The wind and the snow swirled in time with her twisting emotions. She was fighting to keep it contained to just the area immediately surrounding the mountain. Out here there was no danger to Arendelle, so long as she kept focusing on that. It was also helping with her release. Expending just as much energy in the containment. She felt a little better already. The hurt and anxiety had left, -mostly. There was still a physical hurt. She was not completely calm -yet… She was just, -upset! And, -angry! with, -herself, she realized.
Why? WHY! She had trusted him with her past, trusted him with her powers, she had even trusted him with, -her body, her virtue! He had shown her nothing but love and kindness. And she had… she had- Aaaagghhh! How could she be so stupid! She wouldn't be surprised if he never wanted to see her again. She deserved it. Treating him so! Her anxiety flashed again, hopelessness crept in. The winds howled, the snow slashed. She took a deep breath and released it. This was doing her no good. She remembered the letter. He said he loved her, twice! So very much, he said. She would see him again. She would apologize. If she had to swim to, wherever it was he was from. He deserved that much.
She walked out on the balcony. The storm was abating as she calmed. The clouds parted a little. Through it, she saw a star streak across the sky. She was not one to believe, but, maybe… Her hands rose to her chest, clasped. She closed her eyes, and opened her heart. "Please! PLEASE! Let me see him again! At Least to, -to apologize… Then, whatever happens…" Whatever happens after… She would deserve it, if he walked out of her life. She started to berate herself again, then took a deep breath. This would get her nowhere. Only then she realized how tired she was. It felt like she hadn't slept in ages!
She dropped her hands. Her right brushing against something in a newly-sewn pocket. She reached in, and took out her crystal. She held it up. To her astonishment, her image was gone! Hiccups' was still there. There was still a small smile on his face. One she had seen several times before. The point of light in his chest pulsing strongly. She held it to her heart. "Hiccup-" She breathed his name. She could use his comfort as well. She hoped, -desperately hoped she would see him again. She looked upon it again and drew a finger across his face.
A vision flashed… Black, -wings? A flash of red. Bright purple… Sails? or, -wings? Running, -running across a meadow, a -small… Hand in her own? A child, -long silver hair, -eyes of, -green… It was gone. She thought of her earlier, vision. Was, was it the same child? Or… another… She shook her head. Her mind might be playing tricks on her in her current… state. But still…
She put the crystal snowflake back in her pocket for now. Walking inside closing the doors behind her. She was not done yet, but almost. She had to nearly work herself to exhaustion before things would be safe enough. She started to pace the floor. A new line of thought began to cross her mind. She would hug him until he was unconscious. She would kiss him until he was silly, -well, sillier. She would even, -share herself with him, or at least, -please him, given the chance. To show him how sorry she was. She remembered the letter, and his gift to her. No, she thought, he was not lost to her yet.
She started pacing the floor. This new line of thinking warming her to her core. All she needed was a chance. A chance to speak to him, a chance to, -show him…
She was exhausted. It was challenge enough to keep one step ahead. Keep all the names straight. It started off rocky at first. She remembered her sessions with Elsa, Gerda, and Kai. Those sit-ins recently with her sister. Drawing on all that knowledge to help her through the day. She was proud of herself, her first full day and no disasters! But she was sooo tired!
She was scribbling away at a royal proclamation, when there was a knock at the door. Her last meeting! One she had called herself. She had to know if there was anything else she needed to know about his departure. There was only one other person who could know.
He was announced, and took a few tentative steps into the room. "Valdor! How good of you to come on such short notice!" His eyes fell on her, but he continued to look around the room.
"Princess? Where, I was, -ahem- expecting the Queen!" He fidgeted a little.
"The Queen is indisposed at the moment. Please! Sit! Can I get you something?" He sat, though he still seemed nervous. "No! no thank you princess…"
"I summoned you here because I, WE, -wanted to know if you saw Lord Hiccup before he left. If, if he said anything to you." He relaxed a little. Ahh! She could see now…
"No, your Highness. I didn't see him. He left me a note, and a bag of gold for my trouble he said. He also left me this…" He pulled out what appeared to be a small coin sack, and placed it on the desk. After seeking and receiving his approval, she opened it and reached inside. It was full of the flat, black stones. She held it up to the light. Yes definitely! -Dragon scales.
"He said in his note that they were valuable, but I don't know rightly what they are." He furrowed his brow, and grabbed his chin in thought. She smiled.
"They're dragon scales!" His eyes widened. "You don't say…" He took one and examined it.
"I have heard of these being very valuable, difficult to work with, but highly sought after in certain markets…" She smiled. Oh Hiccup! He had left the man a small fortune!
"He made me these!" She took the small package and handed it to him. His eyes widened again at the sight of the earrings. He nodded his head in fondness. "He made my sister a brooch! Like those, but with a bigger scale!" He smiled.
"There was one more package! He bade me give it to Lady Kirsten on her birthday, in two weeks…" He shook his head. "Ahh, there's a good lad!" She smiled too. Her heart melting. She would have to attend…
His face took a more serious look. "Your Highness? He said he was leaving… He and the Queen… Is, is it true?" She sat up, and lowered her voice.
"You must keep this to yourself!" He nodded. "Of course, Princess!" Leaning closer.
"The Queen encountered a dragon while riding yesterday." Valdors' shocked expression was evident, and expected.
"Later, she and Hiccup talked. He told the Queen he had a dragon. It was how he came to Arendelle in the first place!" His eyes widened, and his jaw dropped. "Yes! Well, the queen told him to get rid of it, but he couldn't, nor would he leave without him…"
The smith rubbed his jaw, thinking. "Was, was it the same dragon she encountered? Or is there another?" She stopped. She hadn't considered this.
"I… I. Don't. Know…" She thought for a moment. "What are the chances of there being two dragon riders in Arendelle?" Valdor blinked.
"I might say very slim! But if it was Hiccup she encountered, why didn't the boy reveal himself to her?" An interesting question! She thought about what Elsa had said…
"She said she saw them at her ice palace. She said she… She was ready to… strike them with her magic… And as soon as he saw her they… They flew away! He was protecting the both of them! Elsa, and the dragon!" This made so much sense! She didn't know how Elsa would fare against a dragon. Hiccup apparently did not want to find out! It was an interesting idea, she mused. Her sister, the Snow Queen pitted against a dragon. She dismissed those thoughts for now. She addressed the smith earnestly.
"Valdor, no one knows about the dragon except Elsa, myself, and the council. I must ask you to keep this silent." Valdor nodded. "Of course, My Princess!"
"And I wish for the matter between the Queen and Lord Haddock to remain private. I know tongues will wag, but this is a lovers' spat. Nothing to be overly concerned about. Hiccup will come back, we will all talk, and it will be all cleared up! I know it!" Valdor nodded.
"Aye, Princess! They are quite taken with each other. I'm happy for them both."
"I am too! I thought she'd never find someone. I just hope they can forgive each other and move on…" She said. The smith smiled.
"If I know Hiccup, that has already happened. But the Queen? She must forgive herself ! That is not easily done." Anna nodded.
"Yes, but… I'm sure it will all work out." She knew Elsa could be hard-headed, but between the two of them, they would work it out. Then she could have the brother she already knew him to be.
"Master Bregeman? I thank you again for coming. And please! If there is ever anything you need… Ask!" Valdor stood and bowed.
"Yes, My Princess. I promise to be, -discreet. And I shall do what I can to quell any nasty rumors!" She thanked him. He bowed again and left.
She slumped in the chair, and sighed. She was so tired! She again marveled at her sister. How she could do all of this, all the while remaining calm and aloof, and still manage to find time for her. She vowed to help her more. She would learn what she needed to know. She would help Elsa bear this burden.
She stood up and walked to the window. There was but little light left, but she could tell clouds were still circling on the North Mountain. She hoped Elsa was alright. It was a small comfort, for as long as the clouds were there and moving, Elsa was at least alive. She hoped she would return soon.
She thought on her revelations of the day. Hiccup had flown here… Flown !… On the back of a dragon ! The idea gave her goosebumps! He had come here from up north, on vacation. He had ran into -literally- a southern Queen, and had fallen in love. All the while hiding who he was, and hiding said dragon. The poor guy! She couldn't blame him for keeping this to himself. His words rang true. " When you know, you'll understand!" This was huge! It could have started a panic. He would be forced to leave. Least his friend be killed!
This brought on another train of thought. The dragon would have been killed because they thought, -they believed- dragons were merciless killers. What had he said in the letter? " Going against everything you believe is not easy." Good gods! He must have believed as they do at one time. Something changed. He discovered something. He used the knowledge to help people. He had, -tamed a dragon! Oh Hiccup! That's, that's -amazing! She hoped he would return soon. She wanted to see this dragon! Would it be too much to hope to, -ride it? She hoped not…
She walked towards the door. All of this "brain stuff" was making her tired. She only now realized she was very hungry. Yes, a good meal and a long soak. That would fix this. She left the office and headed for the dining room.
Dinner was a quiet affair. Too quiet. It was just her, in that large room. At the large table. She kept glancing at the chair at the head of the table. She knew Elsa had spent many evenings like this. When work kept her late, or when she was dining with Kristoff. She sighed. There was a lot going on. Tomorrow would be busy as well. Hopefully, her sister would return, and so would Hiccup.
There was a small knock on the door. It opened before she could answer. She looked up from her plate and saw the most wonderful person! The one she realized she needed most right now.
"Kristoff!" She practically jumped out of her chair, and ran across the room. She jumped in his waiting arms. Wrapped in that safety, she rested her head against his chest. She could hear his strong heartbeat. A song that calmed all her fears and anxieties. She kissed him fiercely. She came to another realization. He really did love her!
"Shhh, -Anna? What's happened? I'd heard so many things!" She looked into his eyes. She saw nothing but genuine concern. Not just for her either. She knew this. She dragged him to the table and sat him down. This was going to take a while…