Work Text:
The boy was finally asleep, and Anna stepped out of the nursery.
“Anna, glad I caught you,” Hans said, almost startling her.
“Hans, hello, I wasn’t expecting to see you. Your son just fell asleep, would you like to say good night?”
“If he’s asleep, what’s the point?” Hans sniffed.
Anna swallowed. She needed to be understanding. “Oh, well, I suppose-”
“At any rate,” Hans spoke over her, “a messenger arrived from the Southern Isles this afternoon, and they’ll need me to help with matters in the West Indies colonies again. I’ll be leaving tomorrow.”
“But,” Anna began, trying to control her voice. “Hans, this is the fourth time you’ve been gone in less than three years.”
“Anna, surely you understand royal duties?” He gestured to the nursery.
“Yes, Hans,” Anna replied dryly, hating to hear her son referred to as merely a duty. “You’ve often mentioned the importance of the heir apparent.”
“Heir presumptive,” Hans corrected, “your sister could still marry, you know.”
Anna held her tongue. She couldn’t picture Elsa marrying, but no matter. She and her husband stood in the hallway silently, as if they were armies in a stalemate.
“Well, Hans, how long will you be gone this time?” she finally asked.
“I’m not sure. I’ll send a letter when I arrive in Charlotte Amalie and let you know. Good night, Anna.”
“Good night, Hans,” Anna said as they each went to their separate bedrooms.
Anna woke up before the maid came in to open the curtains. The early sunlight was poking through along the edges of the curtain. She never used to wake up this early, not even in the summer, but these days she frequently found herself awake early. She decided she would go to the nursery and see if little Lars was awake yet. He was often awake early, especially in the summer. He was only two years old, but was getting to be a good conversation partner already.
She was startled by a knock at the door. The maid never knocked this early in the morning.
“Hello?” she asked.
“Anna?” It was Hans. She ran to the door.
“Yes?” she asked, opening the door, hoping not to sound too… too much.
“I realized that I’ll be missing your birthday again, so I got you a present,” he said, handing her a box. “Go ahead and open it.”
She took the box over to the table by her window, since it was a bit heavy, and she didn’t want to drop it while trying to open it, especially if it was anything fragile. She heard noises as she was untying the strings on the box. Surely it wasn’t something alive?
“A kitten?” she gasped in shock, seeing the sleeping creature on a towel at the bottom of the box.
“Something to keep you company while I’m away,” he replied, obviously proud of his choice.
“Oh, of course,” she said, forcing a smile. “Thank you, Hans, this was very thoughtful.”
“Now,” he said, pecking her on the cheek, “the ship is ready, so I need to be going.”
“Safe travels,” she called as he walked down the hall.
It had been a week since Anna’s husband had left for the West Indies colonies of the Southern Isles. It would likely be some time before she got a letter telling her how long he would be away this time. The kitten was sweet, and Lars and Olaf had decided that his name should be Pumpernickel.
Lars had just gone down for his nap, and Olaf had gone somewhere in the countryside for the day, she hadn’t quite caught what he had said. Pumpernickel had been in the library when she had taken Lars to the nursery for his nap.
Anna opened the door to the library, and didn’t see the kitten anywhere.
“Pumpernickel!” she called out, not sure if a kitten this young would recognize its name, anyway.
She held her breath, trying to hear any signs of the kitten in the library. Maybe the kitten had gone to the kitchen, she’d go there next.
“Your Highness!” Gerda called over as Anna walked to the staircase.
“Gerda, I’m looking for the kitten. Have you seen him?”
“No, I’m sorry, but I’ll let you know if I do.”
“Thank you,” Anna said, continuing toward the kitchen.
There was no sign in the kitchen, either, and none of the kitchen staff had seen him, though they were all familiar with him after only a week.
She decided she would try one more place. She knocked on the study door.
“Come in!” Elsa called out.
“Oh, hi, Elsa,” Anna said nervously. “Sorry to bother you.”
“It’s no bother at all, Anna, I told you that!”
“Right, sorry, it’s just, well, you know how Hans is, we each have our duties, and yours is taking care of matters of state, and I shouldn’t get in your way.”
“I don’t know where he gets that idea,” Elsa sighed, “I’d be happy to have your company any time.”
“Well, I suppose I’ve been busy,” Anna mumbled, not wanting to think too much about Hans, anyway. “Anyway, I’m looking for the kitten, you know, Pumpernickel?”
“Is he with Olaf? I know Olaf was out visiting today.”
“No, Olaf left early this morning ,and Lars and I were playing with the kitten just before naptime,” Anna explained.
Elsa nodded thoughtfully. “Do you think the cat might be outside?”
“Oh! I hadn’t thought of that!” Anna exclaimed. “I’ll go check!”
“Bye, Anna!” Elsa called as she ran out the study door.
The late spring air was warm as Anna stepped out into the courtyard. Where would a kitten go? She looked around the edge of the courtyard, her eyes landing on the stables. Pumpernickel did enjoy playing hide and seek. She walked directly over.
“Be nice, Sven!” she heard coming from inside, along with snorts from the reindeer.
She was going to immediately greet Kristoff, but she paused watching. He was facing away from her, seated on a hay bail next to Sven. Kristoff’s shirt sleeves rolled up well past his elbows, and Anna could tell that he must have the kitten in his lap. Sven was looking suspiciously, but noticed her standing in the doorway, bounding over and giving away her cover.
“Hello Sven!” she said as the reindeer greeted her.
“Anna?” Kristoff asked, looking around to see her, awkwardly juggling the kitten as he stood up.
“There he is!” Anna smiled. “Thank you for finding him, Kristoff!”
“He came to visit,” Kristoff said as the kitten crawled up to his shoulder.
“I was worried about him, but if he wants to come visit the stables, I think that’s fine.”