Author's Note: I do not own the properties of Frozen nor Spice and Wolf. However, Prince Naiel, King Nathaniel and Queen Magdalena are me, my wife's and my son's creations...so please at least give due credit if you choose to coopt them.

FROZEN: Blood And Wolf

A further continuation of the Wolf Prince and the Snow Queen.

Chapter One

The sun rose through the hazy fog that surrounded Arenedelle. It was early January, and the fjord was frozen over, as it would be for at least another two months. With activity in the port mostly shut down, save for the basics of winter maintenance, most of Arendelle's citizens continued on with the simple tasks of winter survival in the frozen north. In the royal palace, the Queen's handmaiden, opened the shutters to let what dim light was piercing the foggy veil to enter the room. "Morning, your Majesty."

Elsa yawned and groggily opened her eyes, "Morning, Beautrice." She looked over at the clock and instinctively caressed the blue crystal vial that hung from her neck, and sighed sadly.

The handmaiden's cheerful expression dropped slightly, but she quickly recomposed herself and pulled out the Queen's robe. "I've taken the liberty of drawing your bath, Majesty. Just the thing for a cold winter's morning like today."

Elsa smiled and nodded, but the resumed her distant gaze into the wall, her thoughts far away from Arendelle.

Across the hall, Anna's handmaiden opened the shutters, "Morning, Princess. How are we feeling this morning?"

For her part, Anna sat glumly upright, holding a large ceramic basin, which rested on the recently appeared bulge of her belly. She shook her head slowly and looked over to the empty space beside her. "Melissa, where is my darling husband?"

The handmaiden paused, "I believe Sir Kristoff and Sir Thorin are training."

Anna fought down another wave of nausea. "Really, this early?"

The other woman smiled sympathetically, "It seems our Ice Master is taking his duties as a Wulfen Guard very seriously."

Anna actually chuckled, a slight smile crossing her face and rubbed her belly, "Yes, sweetums, your daddy likes playing he's a knight with our wolf...oh god, I'm going to throw up again."

Having bathed and dressed, Elsa sat in her office chamber as Kai handed her various requests and reports from the city council. In the corner near the door, the Wulfen Guard, Alexis, stood in a relaxed stance. Kai risked an inquisitive glance towards her, and she responded with the barest shake of her head. Kai sighed softly in disappointment and Elsa suddenly stopped scribbling with the ink quill, before taking a deep breath and tossing it down in irritation.

"Yes, Kai? Is there a question you wish to ask?"

Kai shook his head, "Uh, no your Majesty, I was just..."

"It's been 3 weeks, okay. His last letter was 3 weeks ago. An interesting coincidence, really, as he was only supposed to be gone for 3 weeks. However, that was 3 months ago. So if that's what you wanted to ask, there's your bloody answer!"

Alexis shifted slightly, and cleared her throat, "Queen Elsa, I know this has been hard on you. Rest assure that Prince Naeil would not have been gone so long if there wasn't a good reason."

Elsa turned in her chair and gave Alexis an icy glare. "I realize you feel compelled to defend your 'little brother' but right now...knock it off." She closed her eyes and sighed, "Have you heard anything on the winds?"

Alexis bowed her head, "If I'd received any such message, I would have informed you instantly, as would any of us."

Fighting to regain her composure, Elsa picked up the quill again, "So there you have it, Kai. The last word I've had from my beloved fiance to whom I was supposed to get married to last month before the fjord completely froze over was 3 weeks ago. Now, can we get back to dealing with our local matters."

"I'm worried about her," Kai stated glumly.

He walked along the halls with Reisha, one of the four Wulfen Guard still at the palace, which was, Kai considered, actually only 3 as one of those Guards was Kristoff, an appointment that most considered honorary, except perhaps Kristoff himself.

"Are you sure that this isn't mostly being driven by the Princess's pregnancy? I've seen such things before, pack mates getting cranky and the like."

Kai shook his head, "I'm sure that there is some measure of that going on, but this is deeper. This is beyond mere irritation that he's been gone for longer than expected. Beyond the embarrassment of having their wedding delayed by his absence."

Reisha looked over at the Steward, "That's a human thing. As far as we're all concerned, they're already 'married', they were the second he bound himself to her snow. Honestly I don't get the whole affair with the dresses and the priest and all that."

He sighed, "I fear she's starting to believe he's not coming back at all."

Reisha snorted, "Well then she's going to be surprised when he comes bounding down that road, even if it's seventy years from now."

Kai let out a dry laugh, but his face resumed it's serious demeanor. "Reisha, be honest with me. Have you heard anything, anything at all? If I need to, I'll swear to secrecy, but I want to know."

Reisha stopped and paused, "No, Kai. And that in itself is troubling."

Kai looked at her, pressing her to continue with his eyes, "You know pretty much what I know, Kai," the Wulfen stated flatly. "A few days after the Princess's wedding, a sealed letter from the Wolf King was sent to Naeil, and he and Ragnar departed immediately for Yoitsu. Since then, Queen Elsa has received letters from the Prince, basically assuring her that he is okay, and that he will return as soon as he can."

Kai nodded, "Yes, this I know. But you said it was troubling they weren't using the packs to communicate."

Reisha nodded, "It can only mean two things...they are someplace where there are no packs to send word through, or they can't use the packs because such messages could be intercepted."

Kai looked confused, "But I thought only other Wolf Kind could understand such messages..."

Reisha chuckled grimly, "We are not all united, Kai. Just as humanity has it's disparate elements, so do we. We only seem more united because there are far fewer of us, and most of us serve under the Wolf King's Banner. However, there are rogue Wolf Kind out there, and there are other creatures who can also hear our howls on the winds and understand their meanings. Not many, in either category, but they do exist."

Kai nodded in understanding, and let out a breath of resignation, "Then I guess all we can do is try to keep the Queen's spirits up until the Wolf Prince returns."

Reisha nodded sadly, "Unfortunately, this is a fact."