Anna's Icy Adventure Read online

  Copyright © 2013 Disney Enterprises, Inc.

  All rights reserved. Published by Disney Press, an imprint of Disney Book Group. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. For information address Disney Press, 114 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10011-5690.

  ISBN 978-1-4231-9728-7

  Visit www.disneybooks.com

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  For as long as I can remember, the kingdom of Arendelle has been shut off from the rest of the world, especially the castle, with its locked gates, closed doors, and shuttered windows. That means the royal family—including me—has been the most closed off of all.

  I’m Anna, Princess of Arendelle. It’s a fancy title that sounds very regal and proper, but I’m not like that. I’d rather run around with the wind in my hair and experience new things! If only I were allowed off the castle grounds, which I’m not. I used to beg my mother and father to change the rule, but they said it was necessary to keep Elsa and me safe.

  I didn’t like it, but I trusted them. That’s why, after the terrible shipwreck that took our parents away, I didn’t complain when the castle stayed as closed off as ever.

  Elsa, by the way, is my older sister. She never complains about the rule. She says as members of the royal family, we have responsibilities that are far more important than any little things we might want.

  That’s Elsa. She’s a perfectly poised, proper and polished princess. Soon she’ll be an equally perfect queen. She’s very dedicated to Arendelle, and we’re lucky to have her as our future leader.

  I just wish she were a little more dedicated to me.

  Don’t get me wrong. She’s not mean to me or anything. She just…doesn’t seem to like me very much. It’s weird, because when we were little, we used to play together all the time. We especially loved winter. I remember we’d make snow angels, build snowmen, and have huge snowball fights. We’d laugh so hard we couldn’t even breathe!

  Then, when I was about five years old, everything changed. Out of nowhere, Elsa stopped liking me. All of a sudden, every time I knocked on her door, she’d yell at me to go away.

  I didn’t get it. I still don’t get it. What did I do to make her so upset? I feel like if I knew, I could make it better. I always tried to make it better. I invited her to play with me. I sent her little notes. I asked her what she was thinking about so maybe she’d start talking…but nothing I did helped.

  The whole thing makes me really sad, but I can’t force Elsa to like me if she doesn’t. Besides, today my whole world will change. It’s Elsa’s coronation day. In just a few hours, she’ll take the oath and become Queen of Arendelle. By law, everyone is invited to witness the event. All of Arendelle will pour into our castle walls. Finally, I’ll have the chance to meet new people and make friends!

  I could even fall in love.

  I can picture exactly how it will happen. I’ll see him across the crowd. He’ll be tall and handsome. Our eyes will meet. I’ll give him a secret smile. He’ll think I’m sophisticated and fascinating. We’ll walk toward each other like there’s no one else in the world. Then, from the minute we say hello, we’ll know we’ll always be together. He’ll love me forever, and he won’t ever turn on me for no apparent reason, like some people I know.

  I throw myself into my closet to find my coronation dress. I toss it on, then spin over to the mirror. I pin up my strawberry-blond hair. A thatch of white runs through it.

  Did I mention I have a single streak of white hair? I was born with it, although I dreamed I was kissed by a troll.

  Suddenly, I hear loud creaks and groans. It has to be the sound of the castle gates opening! I race into the hall but stop at Elsa’s closed door. I wonder if she’s nervous. Maybe I should try to talk to her.

  There’s no point. She’ll only tell me to go away. Instead I run downstairs and into the courtyard, which is already filling with guests. I try to smile and look friendly, but when people see me, they won’t meet my eyes. They bow and hurry on their way.

  I guess it’s not so easy for a princess to meet new people.

  I’m disappointed, but if I can’t make a new friend, maybe I can at least slip outside the castle grounds for a little bit. It’s such a gorgeous summer day, and the water surrounding our kingdom glistens in the sunlight. I head to the docks, where beautifully decorated boats stream in from all over. I’m so amazed by their high masts and multicolored flags, I don’t even look where I’m going.

  That’s probably why I’m shocked when a horse slams into me. It sends me toppling backward into a boat, and my weight tips the boat off the dock!

  Oh, no! I can be so clumsy.

  At the last second, the horse stops the boat with his hoof.

  “I’m so sorry. Are you hurt?” a voice asks.

  Surely that can’t be the horse.

  I look up, and there is the most handsome man I’ve ever seen in my life.

  The man hops down from his horse. He steps into the boat with me and offers his hand.

  “Prince Hans of the Southern Isles,” he says.

  He’s a prince? An actual “handsome prince”?

  I guess I can forgive him for slamming his horse into me.

  “Princess Anna of Arendelle,” I say.

  Prince Hans drops to his knees and bows his head. His horse bows, too—and takes his hoof off the boat! The boat tips, sending Hans and me sprawling into each other.

  It’s a little embarrassing.

  Hans turns bright red and apologizes stiffly for tackling “the Princess of Arendelle.” I realize he thinks I’m the princess who is about to become queen, which would be funny if it weren’t so ridiculous. I tell him not to worry. I’m not Elsa, I’m just me.

  “Just you?” he asks.

  He smiles. He has a really great smile. I want to say something clever, but then the Arendelle chapel bells ring. It’s time for the coronation! I wave goodbye to Hans and run as fast as I can to catch the ceremony.

  Elsa’s coronation is beautiful. I stand right next to her at the front of the chapel. When I peek past the bishop, I can see the entire audience. I can’t believe how many people are here! I look for Hans, and he waves when I spot him.

  See? I’ve only spent a few minutes out of the castle and I’ve already made a friend! I want to tell Elsa, but she’s a little busy becoming queen.

  I watch the bishop put the crown on Elsa’s head. Then he picks up a pillow holding the royal scepter and orb. She reaches for them, but the bishop stops her before she touches them.

  “Your gloves, Your Majesty,” he says.

  Elsa always wears gloves, even when it’s hot out. I don’t know why. I’ve asked her, but she never answers. I guess she just likes them, which makes sense. The gloves are beautiful on her, but the ritual requires her to take the scepter and orb with bare hands.

  It shouldn’t be a big deal for Elsa to take off the gloves, but she looks really nervous. I understand. It’s a huge responsibility to become queen. I want to tell her it’s okay and I’m here for her, but I don’t get the chance. She takes a deep breath, pulls off her gloves, and hands them to me, then picks up the orb and scepter.

  Elsa turns around to face the crowd. She holds the orb and scepter high as the bishop proclaims her Queen of Arendelle.

  I hear
everyone cheer, but I can’t stop staring at Elsa. She looks pale. I wonder if she’s okay.

  A second later, it’s over. Elsa puts down the orb and scepter, whips her gloves out of my hands, and quickly puts them back on. The whole crowd applauds, and Elsa finally looks relaxed. She even smiles at me!

  Later, we stand together as trumpets announce our arrival at the coronation ball in the Great Hall.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, Queen Elsa and Princess Anna!” the heralds call.

  We walk in together, and I gasp. The room is magnificent! It’s filled with dancers, all of whom turn to applaud as we enter. Tables have been laid with incredible food, and the walls are draped in beautiful decorations. I’m so amazed that I giggle, and I’m afraid Elsa will scold me for being inappropriate. Instead she squeezes my hand and smiles—again!

  We’re ushered to the head of a receiving line, where an endless row of dignitaries wait to shake our hands. The Duke of Weselton is first in line and asks Elsa to dance. She replies, “I do not dance. But my sister does.”

  For a second I think Elsa wants to get rid of me, but then I see the gleam in her eye. She’s trying to hold in a laugh, and as the Duke whisks me onto the floor I realize why. The man dances like a sprightly peacock, mincing and preening with no clue that he’s stepping all over my feet!

  When he finally returns me to Elsa’s side, I try to glare at her, but the minute our eyes meet we both burst out laughing.

  I can’t believe it—we’re really having fun together! Maybe all this time, Elsa was just worried about becoming queen. Now that it has happened, she can finally relax, and we’ll be friends again.

  “I wish it could be like this all the time,” I say.

  “Me too,” Elsa replies, and I feel my heart soar. Then her smile fades and she adds, “But that can’t be.”

  Is she serious? Why can’t it? I want to ask, but I know the look on her face. She’s already shut me out. Whatever we had, it’s over.

  I excuse myself and walk away. I don’t know where I’m going, but I can’t stay there next to Elsa. Unfortunately, the party is so packed with people it’s impossible to get anywhere. Again and again I’m pulled into the dancing, and I am not a good dancer. I get bumped by a conga line, slip on my own dress, and fall…right into the arms of Prince Hans!

  Unlike me, Hans is a terrific dancer. He whirls me around on the dance floor, and in his arms I’m light on my feet. We dance until we’re completely out of breath. I’m having so much fun, I’m not even thinking about Elsa anymore.

  Afterward, Hans and I walk around the castle and talk. I learn all about him. It turns out he has twelve older brothers—twelve! I tell him everything. He’s such a great listener that it’s easy. We make each other laugh, and we have so much in common that soon we’re finishing each other’s sentences.

  Even though we just met, I know it’s true love. Hans knows it, too. He’s so sure, he asks me to marry him! Of course I say yes.

  I can’t wait to tell Elsa the great news.

  Hans and I find Elsa back in the Great Hall. She’s talking to some important-looking people, but we pull her away.

  “Elsa, this is Prince Hans of the Southern Isles,” I say. “We would like your blessing…of our marriage!”

  “Anna,” Elsa says, “you can’t marry a man you just met.”

  That’s sweet. She’s concerned about me. Still, she doesn’t understand what Hans and I have: true love. I explain that to Elsa.

  “What do you know about true love?” she snaps at me.

  “More than you,” I counter. “All you want is to be alone.”

  Elsa ignores me. Then she tells the royal handlers to end the party and close the gates. She tries to walk away, but I won’t let her. I grab for Elsa—and her glove peels off into my hand.

  Elsa spins and lunges at me. “Give me my glove!” she demands.

  Of course. She cares way more about her glove than she cares about me. I hold it out of her reach to keep her attention.

  “No,” I say. “Listen to me. I can’t live like this anymore.”

  “Then leave,” she says.

  The words hit me like a punch.

  “What did I ever do to you?” I ask. “Why do you shut me out? Why do you shut the world out? What are you so afraid of?”

  “Enough!” Elsa shouts…and ice seems to shoot from her hand! It spirals across the floor, freezing it solid. Party guests teeter, barely catching themselves on the newly slippery surface.

  Everyone is silent for what seems like forever.

  “Sorcery,” a duke says. As the word echoes through the room, the whole crowd turns and stares at Elsa. She looks trapped and confused. She races out of the hall.

  A second ago I was mad at her, but I’m not anymore. I’m worried. I push past everyone to get outside. When I do, I can’t believe what I see.

  Ice is everywhere. The fountain, the staircase in front of the castle—it’s all covered in ice. Finally, I see Elsa. She’s at the fjord’s edge, backing away from the townspeople. They look terrified, but so does Elsa. I beg her to stop and come back, but instead she puts a foot on the water. It freezes solid.

  As Elsa runs away, the water keeps freezing under her feet. I try to follow, but I slip and fall. By the time I look up, Elsa has run impossibly far. She’s all the way across the fjord, scrambling up a mountain on the other side. The fjord itself is completely frozen. Every boat in the water is locked in ice. I stare after her, letting it all sink in.

  Elsa has the ability to turn things to ice!

  Has she always had that power? Is that why she wears gloves?

  Helplessly, I watch Elsa disappear over the mountain. My heart aches for her. It must have been so hard to keep her power a secret all these years. No wonder she was always so cold and distant. If anyone got close, they might have found out.

  Even me.

  My heart thuds in my chest as I realize it. That’s why she always shut me out! It wasn’t that she hated me, it was that she was afraid I’d discover her secret!

  If only she’d trusted me. I wouldn’t have judged her. I’d have helped! She could have relied on me instead of pushing me away.

  Maybe she doesn’t know that, but I can prove it to her. I’ll find her and show her I’m on her side. It will change everything. She’ll know we’re in this together, and we’ll be close again.

  “I’m going after her,” I say as it starts to snow. I don’t realize Hans is right behind me until he tries to talk me out of it. He says it’s too dangerous. He volunteers to go himself, but I won’t let him. I need to assure my sister that she’s not alone.

  Then the duke who accused Elsa of sorcery shouts to the townspeople that they should all go after “the monster.”

  “No!” I cut him off. “Elsa is not a monster, and this is not her fault. It’s my fault. I pushed her. Please trust me. I will bring her back and make this right. I promise.” I hope they believe me.

  Before I leave, I tell everyone that while I’m gone, all my royal powers belong to Hans, my fiancé. He’s surprised, but he promises me and the townspeople that he will keep Arendelle safe until I return.

  I’m lucky I met such a great guy. Elsa will see that, too. She was only worried because she cares. Now all I have to do is find her and bring her back, and everything will be perfect.

  Wow. When Elsa creates a storm, she doesn’t fool around. It’s freezing up here on this mountain! I huddle on my horse and pull my cloak tighter around me, but the wind slices right through it.

  I don’t know how long I’ve been following Elsa, but I can’t see Arendelle anymore. I can’t see much of anything through the swirling snow. I try to steer my horse up the same path Elsa took, but I have no idea if I’m going the right way.

  A branch snaps and startles my horse. I comfort him, but then we hear wolves howl in the distance. My horse rears up, and I try to hold on but can’t. I fly off his back and land facedown in the snow. By the time I sit up, my horse has disappeared.r />
  This is not good. Maybe I should make my way back to Arendelle. I seriously consider it.

  No. My sister needs me. Yes, I’m cold. Yes, I’m lost. Yes, there’s maybe a one-in-a-zillion chance that I’ll find her in this storm. Still, I have to try.

  I trudge up a hill to get a better look at my surroundings. I really should have changed into boots when I grabbed my cloak. As it is, wet snow seeps into my shoes with every step. At least, I think it does. I can’t actually feel my feet.

  Finally, I get to the top of the hill and scan the area for any sign of Elsa. I don’t see her, but I do see chimney smoke from a cabin in the distance. That means a fire—and warmth!

  I start to run down the hill, but did I mention I can’t feel my feet? They slip out from under me. I tumble head over heels, down, down, down until I splash into a stream. The icy water soaks through my clothes and bites into my skin.

  Why couldn’t Elsa have had warm magical powers?

  At least I landed near the cabin. The sign outside says WANDERING OAKEN’S TRADING POST AND SAUNA.

  A sauna sounds amazing. Maybe I’ll bring Elsa back here after I find her. Right now I need winter clothes to protect me from the cold.

  I get lucky. Even though the store is filled with summer gear, Oaken has a clearance rack with winter boots and dresses that are my size. While I sift through them, I ask Oaken if he’s seen Elsa, but he says I’m the only one crazy enough to be out in this storm.

  Apparently he’s wrong, because just then a man walks in. He doesn’t say hello to me or Oaken. I mean, I know we’re all strangers, but we’re also caught together in a wild snowstorm. Is it that hard to be friendly?

  Oaken tries some small talk. “Got caught in a real howler, didn’t you? Wherever could it be coming from? Do you know?”

  “The North Mountain,” the not-so-chatty guy mutters.

  Could be he right? Is Elsa on the North Mountain?

  I watch the guy shop for supplies. He definitely knows what he needs for the weather. He grabs ropes, furs, blankets, a hatchet, and carrots.