when the night has come || kristoff+krisa
— ❖ — "Come on, Sven." Kristoff patted the reindeer's meaty side, waking him from his doze. "Time to go."
Their shelter was bare, and they needed to trek down the North Mountain to Oaken's for supplies. Although the man had never much liked Kristoff-- he'd never been friendly or talkative enough for Oaken's taste, and calling the massive shopkeeper a crook didn't help their relationship-- but he was trustworthy regarding Kristoff's location. He wasn't supposed to be in Arendelle anymore, according to his banishment, but Oaken had kept Kristoff's secret for some reason.
On their way down the snowy slopes-- it was always winter atop the North Mountain, despite the spring weather covering the rest of Arendelle-- Kristoff pulled out their last carrot, sharing the vegetable with Sven. But after a bite or two, Kristoff just gave the whole thing to Sven. The reindeer nudged his arm, whining a bit and looking up at him with concerned eyes. Kristoff just smiled faintly, patting Sven's neck as he walked beside him.
"It's okay, Buddy. I'm not hungry." He was never very hungry anymore. He was still the meaty, solid guy he'd always been, due to the work he still did-- Oaken still bought his ice, selling the abundant harvest Kristoff managed to cut to customers. But his appetite was practically nonexistent most days.
Especially days like today.
Days when he would see the tops of Arendelle's towers as he descended into the warm weather of other folk. Days when he would come so close to his home, to his family-- the trolls and his twin sister, whom he hadn't seen in almost a year-- but would have to carry on past them. Days when he walked the path he'd walked with Anna to find the queen. Days when he passed the landmarks of their love, the journey that thawed his heart.
Days when he remembered it all.
Oaken's shop was where he'd met Anna. It was a landmark, too, but one that Kristoff couldn't avoid. He had to have equipment and food-- even if he didn't eat so much anymore, he needed to stay alive, and he wouldn't starve Sven. He walked into the doorway, pulling his gloves from his calloused hands and tucking them in his pocket-- he wouldn't need them in Arendelle's spring weather.
"Yoohoo!" Oaken waved from the back, smiling widely. It was hard to believe such a happy, seemingly cuddly fellow would toss someone as large as Kristoff as easily as if he were a child. "You bring ice today?"
"Not today," Kristoff answered simply, moving as quickly as possible towards the ice picks. He didn't want to look around. He saw Anna everywhere. "Just buyin' some supplies." He glanced around, frowning. "Got any carrots? I don't see 'em anywhere."
