Intertwined: Chapter 12 (final)
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Rated T. See master post for tags.
For @true--north 🩵❄️ We made it! I really hope you enjoyed this story and the wait was worth it. Special thanks to @annaofthenorthernlights for your support along the way 🩵
Frozen (c) Disney. Fanfic and fanart created by @sunflowers-and-sandwiches, please do not use without permission.
“Are you sure you won’t eat something?” Elsa glanced at the untouched breakfast tray she and Olaf had brought up to Anna’s room after noticing her sister’s lack of usually ravenous appetite in the dining room earlier that morning, the day before Christmas.
Lost in her own thoughts, Anna couldn't hear her. Instead she rustled restlessly through her dressing table looking for her red and green Yuletide accessory to pin up her hair.
“I just want to be ready. Kristoff promised he’d be home by Christmas Eve.”
Anna stayed focused on her task, trying to keep a brave face, masking the lines of doubt that had intruded her mind during a restless night's sleep. Unable to find the accessory in the vanity, Anna redirected her search towards her bedside table. Pushing aside the torn strap of her bag, Anna's personal flurry came to a sudden halt when her finger tips touched something metallic. The compass. She picked it up gently and opened the case to see the needle pointing north, steadfast and unwavering. She traced the familiar engraving ‘Follow Your Heart’. Her chest grew tight. She knew she was doing the right thing by staying, even though her feet wanted to run. As the pad of her finger lingered and her focus returned, she felt another indent below the elegant script, dulled by years of tarnish, that she hadn’t noticed before. She cleaned it with the tip of her sleeve and peered intently as the hidden inscription appeared. ‘~A’
“A?” Anna murmured to herself, holding her mothers compass. “Agnarr? Father? Father gave this to mother? Follow Your Heart.” She thought about the woven bands hanging in Elsa’s wardrobe. And something about those books and documents in Iduna’s trunk made her senses tingle. “Mother never gave up on Elsa—and I’ll never give up on Kristoff!”
“Or my buddy Sven!” Olaf added. “I bet he can’t wait to rest his hooves in a dry warm stable. When they get back I’m sure that’s the first thing he’ll do.”
“That’s right! Kristoff would always settle Sven first before coming to the castle. I can’t just wait here doing nothing!” With that Anna snapped the compass closed and draped the chain around her neck, tucking it under her dress. Forgetting about her hair, Anna blew past Elsa and Olaf on her way to the stables, the wooden door hung open, shuddering in her wake. Olaf caught his carrot and readjusted his nose.
“Wow! Sudden departures are really her thing!”
Elsa shrugged.
“Here we go again,” she sighed.
~~~
After pelting through the castle courtyard, Anna reached the royal stable, that usually housed their reindeer friend, in no time. Noticing the door was closed she slowed hesitantly and realised that the snow before it remained undisturbed. Still hopeful, she let herself in, the soft morning sun rays following her into the stagnant gloom. Gathering her bearings, she placed her hand on the cold stone wall and followed it, peering into the dark recess of the stable where the light couldn’t reach. Searching. Hoping. Wishing.
“He’s not here,” Anna finally admitted, sinking onto the closest bale of hay. “But he’ll come home—and when he does, I’ll be here.” She wiped the tears from her eyes and rested them in the palms of her hands. Gathering all her faith despite the empty stable that engulfed her, she whispered to herself. “He’ll come home.”
~~~
Kristoff wiped the snow from his eyes and looked again, relieved yet disbelieving. The sun had just risen over Arendelle, its light casting a pink blush across the sky. Just like the morning that he had turned his back on the town, on Anna, but this time his heart was filled with hope and possibility.
Sven slowed to a walk as they reached the bridge that joined the village and the castle, his hooves clip-clopping across the snow dusted cobblestones. With a ruffle of the reindeer’s withers, Kristoff dismounted and walked beside his friend, inhaling through his nose and taking a deep breath of the salty fjord air. The gates were open, the stable door only a few steps away. He was home.
~~~
Clutching Elsa’s hand, Olaf scurried after his Queen, excited but confused.
“What are we doing?” he tittered like a curious child. “And why are you carrying Anna’s sash?”
“It’s Kristoff’s sash, and we’re taking it to Anna. She'll want to give it to him as soon as he arrives,” Elsa stated, picking up her pace. “We’ll wait for him with her, together. She doesn’t have to be alone.”
Olaf wanted to believe her, but growing older had made him less naive.
“Do you really think they survived that storm?”
“Have faith, little snowman,” Elsa reassured softly. Her summer-like smile warmed his demeanour and he skipped ahead, keen to reach the stable to wait for their friends. But just before they reached the threshold, Olaf suddenly stopped and let out a stifled shriek. Crouching next to him, Elsa put a concerned hand on his back.
“Olaf, what’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost!”
Olaf pointed one shaking twig arm towards the stable ahead of them.
“G—G—GHOST!”
Only a few steps away stood the large form of a man with his back turned to them, completely white. Elsa wrinkled her nose sceptically.
“Uh, Olaf…I think that’s Kristoff.”
“Kristoff is a ghost!” Olaf struck out an arm to hold Elsa back then stomped determinedly up to figure—and kicked him in the shin.
“Ow! Hey!” Shedding snow across the floor, the man turned around abruptly. He pulled his bandana down off his face, revealing the freckled cheeks, curved nose and scrunched mouth of Kristoff’s clearly annoyed expression.
“Ohhh! Nope!” Olaf turned back to the door with his hand held to the side of his mouth. “He’s an actual real live person! Never mind!” Kristoff looked up to see Elsa just outside, who giggled with relief, and delicately waved her fingers. Awkwardly he held up a hand to return the greeting before turning back to Olaf, his features painted with total bewilderment.
“Hi Kristoff,” greeted Olaf, back to his normal chipper self.
“Uh, hi... Talk about a frosty receptio—“
STOMP! A boot slammed down onto Kristoff’s foot.
“AUGH! And what was that one for?” Foot still pegged down, he turned to see Anna breathing heavily with her hands on her hips and a look that could freeze his heart in seconds.
“That,” — Anna seethed —“was for leaving the way you did!” Quickly her resolve began to shatter as tears glistened in her eyes and her shoulders shook. Barely able to stand any longer, she staggered forward, desperately grabbing Kristoff’s collar and pulling his face to hers.
“And this,”—she sobbed, hot tears now in rivers down her cheeks— “is for coming back alive.” With a force that made him stumble backward, Anna’s mouth collided with Kristoff’s in a deep and passionate kiss. His arms wrapped around her tightly, pulling her closer and dissolving any space between them.
After a long, lingering moment the lovers reluctantly parted lips to catch their breath. Transfixed by the look of pure love and joy in her eyes, Kristoff tucked a lock of hair behind Anna’s ear to better see her face. Since the last time he saw her, he had thought he’d never get to hold her like this again and studied her face, reliving every memory of it, but then realised something was different about her.
“Oh!” he baulked. “Your hair!”
Anna’s eyes widened and she nearly choked on the incredulous laugh that escaped her.
“You just survived a snowstorm—you should see your hair!” she retorted.
Kristoff’s eyes crinkled as he chuckled affectionately as the spark of her internal fire rose up Anna’s face.
“I mean you’re wearing it out.”
Realising she’d never finished putting up her hair, Anna twirled a loose lock around her fingers and bit her lip.
“Does it look bad?”
“No,” Kristoff assured, running his fingers down the same lock and gently touching her hand. “I like it.”
Something else was different about her. About him too. Kristoff swallowed, steadying himself for all that he needed to tell her. Before he could organise his thoughts, Olaf toddled up with a bundle of warm-hued cloth and held it out to Anna. Surprised to see the snowman, Anna gratefully took the fabric, then both her and Kristoff turned to see where their little friend had come from.
“Elsa!” they exclaimed. Trying not to distract their attention, Elsa nodded with a soft smile and beckoned Olaf back to her, embracing him in a warm hug. With an enthusiastic clattering of hooves, Sven bounded over to them and joined the embrace. Elsa winced even though she was happy—his jowls were wet with water after quenching his thirst in the fountain, too impatient with thirst to wait for his stable trough to be filled. The reindeer eagerly licked Olaf all over like a living snowcone.
“Sven! Buddy!” Olaf giggled. “Ooh hoo hoo! That tickles!”
Anna was pleased to see her family reunited, but a more pressing matter dragged her attention back to Kristoff.
“I know you don’t want me to buy you gifts, and I can respect that now. But please. Let me apologise for the way we last said goodbye. Let me give this to you.” In two hands Anna offered the gift to Kristoff, who graciously accepted without hesitation. Kristoff looked down at the sash he held in his broad palms and traced the edge of the woven pattern with his thumbs. Sunbeams streamed through the doorway into the dim stable, the soft light reflecting off the golden threads that tightly held the motif of sheaves of wheat. “Something that you can take with you when you have to leave, and remind you that I’ll always be here for you, waiting for you to come home.”
Unable to speak, Kristoff’s eyes drifted back up to meet Anna’s, her face as soft and generous with endearment as their moment in the fields, the last scene in his visions.
“Do you like it? I made it! With my own hands!” Anna bounced on her toes, thrilled he had accepted her gift crafted with care and dedication. The swell of excitement sent forth a wave of rambling. “Well, Elsa helped. She helped a lot. She taught me how to weave! It’s not perfect, but I wove you a new sash! Can you believe it?!”
“You did all this for me?” Kristoff stuttered, finally finding his voice. “But why?”
Anna stopped bouncing and draped her hands over the sash to reach Kristoff’s fingers, her skin brushing against his with a feather touch. She looked earnestly into his eyes, no trace of doubt or fear lingering within her.
“Because I love you.”
Kristoff's smile wobbled as his brows crinkled together over his shimmering honey eyes.
“Thank you. Me too,” he whispered hoarsely. “I mean I do.” Kristoff cleared his throat and grasped Anna’s hands through the soft fabric between them. “I love you too.” His heart flickered with the beat of a hundred butterflies' wings, and this time he was unable to contain them. “Anna, I don’t ever want us to be torn apart again—but not by me stopping you, from anything.”
“Oh Kristoff. I’m so sorry,” Anna gushed, sympathetic to his internal struggle. “I was so caught up in what I wanted, that I was blind to what you needed— space to live your own life too. Room to breathe. I finally understand.”
Kristoff leaned in closely to her as he freed an arm and pulled her nearer to him. A fire burned in his heart like never before. All his instincts wanted to protect her, but never to control her or smoulder the feisty spirit he loved. Loving one with an indomitable spirit was not for the faint of heart.
“You need those things too Anna. Someone like you, you deserve every wish your heart makes. I don’t want to take that from you—I want to give you what you need to achieve those dreams. I don’t want you to dim your light, just so you can be with me—I wanna be by your side through everything, even if it scares me. I guess I was so worried about losing you, I pushed you away. I’m sorry too. I guess I’m a bit of a fixer upper after all, but I can fix this.”
Anna’s lip trembled but her focus on him did not waiver.
“You don’t need to fix anything, Kristoff.” She gestured to the space among them. “Between us, we’ve got everything we need to make this work—because in here, I promise you, we’ve got that part right.” Anna tapped her chest, the metallic sound of the compass hanging around her neck dulled by the fabric of her dress. Kristoff’s head tipped to the side in curiosity. Sheepishly Anna pulled the compass up by the chain from below her collar.
“It was in my bag that morning. The only thing that survived when it broke. It was my mother’s. I think father gave it to her. On the inside it’s inscribed ‘Follow Your Heart’. It helped me keep faith in us, in you, and that you’d make it home.”
“I’m so glad to be home, Anna,” His palm cupped her face tenderly. “The star that guided me was you.” Then he slipped his fingers in his tunic, retrieved the gift he’d kept safe there, close to his heart, and held it out to Anna. “I wanted to give this to you too. You and I, our lives and hearts are intertwined. Think of this as a token of my love, and that no matter how far apart in this world we have to be, you’ll always have me.”
“Oh Kristoff!” Anna gasped. “A new strap for my bag?” Almost disbelieving she followed the wheat pattern with the tip of her finger and smiled to herself, as if the threads of the band had woven around her heart. She looked up at him with doe eyes and he all but closed the gap between them, his breath warm against her rouge cheeks.
“Turns out I can learn something new too, with a little help.”
“You learned to weave too? But how?”
“For you Anna, I’ll always find a way.” He pulled back a little as he reached behind his head to rub his neck awkwardly. “And uh, the trolls may have had something to do with it.” Anna giggled knowingly—the love experts!
“There’s something else,” Kristoff continued seriously. “You’ve embraced me as I am and welcomed me so generously into your world—I want to invite you into mine. Anna, will you join me in the mountains?”
Anna not only bounced, but squealed, her hands flying to her mouth.
“Oh Kristoff!”
“Uh uh uh!” he chuckled. “There are conditions. First we start small in the favourable weather then we’ll work our way up to harvesting season.” Anna nodded feverishly but tried to contain herself. She was going to be a wild woman! “To survive in the wilderness requires some essential skills, so you’ll need these too.” From his trusty tattered sash he pulled the last of his hidden necessities, a set of steel and flint, and placed it in her hand. “Along with that compass, some tools to get you started. And just like how you showed me how to use the correct knife and fork, I’ll teach you how to use them. I’ll teach you everything I know and then I’ll know you’ll be safe out there. I’ll know I can trust you to trust yourself. You up for it?”
Too excited for words Anna bounced up on her toes again with another kiss. Kristoff laughed into her lips, accepting her approval, and returned her kiss, all the passion of the last few days spilling forth.
“Thank you Kristoff. You have no idea what this means to me. Eee, we’re going to have so many adventures together! Oh oh, and…” Anna poked her finger into his chest, summoning all her royal command. “As the Official Royal Ice Master and Deliverer, Arendelle once again calls you to duty, as a formal representative in the service of furthering our kingdom's ice trade on the international forum.”
“International?” One of Kristoff's brows quirked. “You mean travel? Beyond Arendelle? I’ve never really…”
“You’d be with me and Elsa and Olaf. Sven could come too! If you want to, that is…”
“I do!” he answered quickly leaving no room for doubt, then his voice trailed cautiously. “I guess I’m just a little nervous.”
Anna tilted her head playfully.
“It would be your duty!”
“Well, when you put it like that!” he grinned. The thought of ‘duty’ snapped Kristoff out of his building daydream and sudden panic gripped his chest. “Wait! The team, the other harvesters—did they all make it back safe?”
“Oh sure they did.” Anna waved her hand like fleeing a mountain during a raging snowstorm was no big deal. “With Tor they were in safe hands.” Kristoff let out a rush of air in relief and a smile returned to his face. “He’ll be so thankful you returned in one piece. Though, you know, he never doubted you. Someone’s gotta tell him!”
Anna squeezed Kristoff’s elbows and looked around him to smile excitedly at her sister. Kristoff followed her gaze and nodded appreciatively to Elsa. Elsa returned the gesture and smiled back with mutual enthusiasm.
Elsa's smile disappeared just as quickly as a thought suddenly occurred to her. She looked around the otherwise empty entrance to the stable and asked hesitantly.
“Uh, Kristoff… Where is your sleigh?”
His shoulders drooped.
“Ugh. Don’t ask.”
“Another disaster?” Anna inquired, biting her lip.
“They come in threes,” he shrugged with a deflated sigh.
Anna stood tall and determined.
“I’ll help you find it!” At that moment her stomach growled hungrily. “But right now I need to find some breakfast.”
“Yes! Please! I’m starving!” Kristoff agreed.
“It’s never too early for krumkake!” Anna gripped her strap tightly and whipped out her other hand to grip Kristoff’s wrist. She turned to drag him in the direction of the village but just as she went to take a step, she stopped. Instead she stood side by side with Kristoff, threading her arm through his. “May we?” she asked demurely.
“We may,” Kristoff smiled at her with a mischievous glint in his eye and bumped her shoulder with his biceps. “Just watch out for poles this time!”
Anna’s expression flashed with excitement and without another word she took off in a flurry of footsteps through the snow, Kristoff laughing joyfully in tow across the bridge.
Elsa shook her head gently and chuckled.
“Some things never change.”
Olaf held out his twig and slipped it into Elsa’s fingers.
“Like the feel of your hand in mine.”
Along with Sven they walked a little way behind Anna and Kristoff, giving them space, yet knowing they would be together again soon. The soft winter sun above embraced them with its welcome warmth at the beginning of a new day, a new adventure. Elsa squeezed the little snowman’s hand as they headed towards Arendelle, their town, their home.
“And I’m holding on tight to you.”
