Journey up North Mountain (Part 1)

Hans didn’t come along on their adventure. He had a bunch of reasonable explanations for why. He had some family he was helping get settled in who were stuck here since apparently the sudden snow storm had also iced over the harbors. While back in town he was also going to wait and organize some hunting parties rather than foolishly running off into the wilderness still wearing a party dress rather than anything appropriate for the weather in his own words. It wasn’t long afterwards the couple had their first argument. Eugene did have to take a quick stop later to let Ana change into something more appropriate. Thankfully he had grabbed some of Rapunzel's coats which were only a size or two bigger just in case for this exact scenario. But while Han had perfectly reasonable concerns, neither Ana or Eugene were impressed by them. Eugene really shouldn’t hold anything against the guy, he was just an idiot Ana chose to spite her sister with, but a part of himself couldn’t help but blame him a little for this whole mess.

“Are you really a thief, Flynn Rider?” Ana yelled, having to raise her voice a little to be heard over the coming snow storm. They had stopped at a small rest stop and sauna awhile back to ask the locals if they had seen anything as well as pick up a few more supplies. The owner wasn’t very helpful, doubling his prices shamelessly, but they had found a local ice harvester and his reindeer who had been more than happy to provide them with Elsa's whereabouts in return for covering for his supplies as well. Kristoff had offered to come with them, which was nice of him, but Eugene had sent him to go back into town to coordinate with Rapunzel and the search parties that were already being formed. No need to waste time having them stumbling around in the woods and backup was sounding more and more like a good idea.

“My real name's Eugene, I specifically changed it because it sounded kind of goofy when I introduced it to people. Charming thief Eugene.” He replied sarcastically, as he reached down to pet his horse’s flank. They had been riding up the North Mountain for several hours now. The sun fully gone, with only the light of their lanterns to guide them up the path which was quickly being consumed by knee deep snow. The horse was handling it well, but Eugene could tell he was running out of steam. They would need to stop soon, but he didn’t know where and wasn’t comfortable letting Elsa stay on top of the mountain all alone. No matter how many magic light shows Kristoff had tried to warn them about.

“So you are a criminal. Should I be worried that we’re traveling all alone up a dark forest?” Ana asked mostly herself as she suddenly looked around at the surrounding darkness and not liking that she couldn’t see anything in it.

“You probably should’ve asked that question before you married a guy you just met, and for the record not an outlaw anymore. I got a pardon for doing a secret mission for the king.” Eugene teased, enjoying just a little too much how Ana’s blush matched perfectly with her flaming red hair. He was almost tempted to add that the mission was the king’s daughter and he did many secret things to her.

“It’s called true love,” Ana said with that obnoxious certainty she definitely didn’t feel. “And should I be taking life advice from someone like you?”

“Touche, I do know a thing or two about screwing up though and hopefully in the future my kids will learn from my mistakes.” Eugene chuckled shamelessly at her accusation, he did kind of deserve it. He had promised himself he would try to avoid the bear trap that was Han’s, focus on one family emergency at a time and right now Elsa was the priority, but he couldn’t help but include at least one dig at it.

“Kid? Excuse me, I’m eighteen. Even if my birthday was only a few weeks ago.” Ana whispered that last part earning another chuckle from Eugene which she maturely responded to by hitting him on the shoulder. He really shouldn’t be egging her own so much but it was just too much fun not to.

“Since where properly introduced what’s the deal with you and your sister?” Eugene finally asked, feeling Ana go still beside him on the horse at the question.

“I don’t know! She won’t tell me,” Ana yelled despite Eugene sitting right next to her, as a lifetime of confusion and grief was finally given an excuse to vent. Before as fast as it appeared, it was then replaced with something much quieter and weaker like a candle being extinguished. “No one will.”

“One day we’re best friends, the next she disappears because of some sickness that means I’m not allowed to be near her. Then my parents do the same…” Ana trailed off on that last point, the scars still painfully visible despite her cheerful exterior. Eugene wondered for a brief second if her parents disappearing act was about the accident, or if it started years earlier. Years spent getting brushed aside as all the parents' attention and time was focused on her older sister and her mysterious “illness.” It was a miracle that Ana wasn’t bitter and angry. She had every right to be.

“It was just me alone with the paintings on the walls until suddenly ice magic,” Ana continued, why the paintings in particular was sore point Eugene didn’t have the slightest clue. Before she turned towards him with a finger pointed threateningly that was only slightly ruined by her big blue innocent doe eyes. “Why are you helping me? Why do you care?”

“We’re family. I might not have been a part of it for very long, but you help your family. That’s what you're supposed to do right?” Eugene turned towards Ana earnestly asking for her opinion and mentally berated himself for how cheesy that came out. He wasn’t good at this. Why couldn’t his wife be here to give Ana all the prep talks and comforting? That was supposed to be her job.

‘I never really had a family growing up,” Eugene admitted with a little stutter, knowing that if Ana was willing to tell him something that personal then he had the obligation to do the same. “My parents died when I was a baby. Just bounced around various orphanages.”

“Which might have contributed to some of those not so great career choices.” Eugene chuckled, a carefree smile slapped on his face that he didn’t feel as he tried to turn it into a joke. Only made worse by the fact Ana wasn’t laughing, just staring at him intently.

“That’s horrible.” Ana yelped as she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him. She smelled like strawberries and was warm and soft. He had to yell at that traitorous part of him that continued to insist she would be much more comfortable in his lap rather than behind him.

“It happens,” Eugene shrugged off, deliberately staring ahead and away from Ana. He didn’t think she would judge him but he didn’t think he could take her sympathy either. Nor did he want more traitorous thoughts to sneak their way in, like how lucky he was that every princess he volunteered to rescue was unnaturally cute and cuddly. “You can’t let the past control you or keep you from seeing the good.”

“Thank you. I needed that.” Ana whispered almost silently as she squeezed him tighter. Eugene didn’t know what he did right, but if marriage had taught him anything it was to just accept it anyways.