When the queen was still well enough to walk around the palace, she could always be found in the court's gardens at nightfall. The silver swan's fountain in the center of the winding trees and flower bushes was her favorite spot. It was far too large to stand in front of the palace, as King Hubert had originally hoped when it was presented as a gift from a neighboring kingdom. Her Majesty knew that there was little room in the gardens for such a colossal statue as well. But whereas the steps that served as entry to their glorious home would've been impossible to demolish, a few trees that did more to clutter the area than make it beautiful could be removed in the blink of an eye. The lack of tangled branches and thickets of leaves left a gigantic opening to view the sky too. A clear window to the moon, the clouds that floated aimlessly on a still sky. And, best of all, there were the stars.

Most stood still, like soliders. Burning intensely in the same spot, no matter how hard you stared. Determined were they to contribute their share of the light that trickled down to Earth, blanketing it in hope. Some, however, shot across the sky. One last salute to a fallen star, off to serve another world. Others flickered a rainbow of colors and those were the ones the queen liked best of all.

"They're soldiers too," she'd giggle. "But they don't see themselves as soldiers, like the others. They know that they are so much more than that. Inside, there's a secret that the other stars don't know yet. That, truly, they are made of magic. And from that magic comes the greatest power in this world. Power to grant a wish. For just one wish from the depth of the heart can change a life forever. Do you understand, my darlings?"

Who was she speaking to? Her sons of course, the four princes, who were quite small then. They loved her dearly, as well as every evening they got to spend with her. Later, when she was too sick to go out to the garden, they charted diagrams, drew pictures, and made up stories about the night then presented them to her in hopes they would help her grow strong again.

But, though their tales and drawings lifted her spirits and sometimes made her smile in her weakness, she grew paler everyday. At the coming of spring that year she died, and the kingdom missed her dreadfully. No one more than the royal family. His majesty was overcome with grief, so much he vowed to never marry again. Her sons, naturally, needed her guidance, kindness and love. But, despite the circumstances, they managed. They loved one another, they were kind to one another, and they helped each other as much as they could. And they wished together. On the fallen stars they saw at night; in their special place in the gardens. They wished for countless things. Happiness, adventure, love. For they always believed that just one wish could change their lives forever.

On a night that Prince Charles watched the stars alone and thought fondly of his mother, he was sure one or two winked at him from above. He wanted to believe it was her, laughing at him sitting at the fountain like a child. Laughing because she was pleased, of course. She'd always hoped, he remembered, that none of them would ever be too grown up to believe in wishes.

"But I do believe," he said aloud, splashing some of the cold water. "At least I do now. Ella says that a dream is a wish your heart makes. And I used dream about her all the time, Mother."

He smiled just thinking about her. Ella was no princess, not by birth anyway. As it turned out, she was a merchants daughter who lived in the kingdom all of his, and her, life.

"She's kinder than any of the princesses I ever met though," said the Prince, still thinking aloud. "But a little stranger I think. She likes to have things to do, and sometimes I've even found her helping the maids with their work. And other times, she helps Beth to sew her own ballgowns."

Then Charles laughed. "I don't know what you would've thought about the mice she keeps either. They all have names, Jaq and Gus, and Pearla and Susie. But Mother"-he sighed. "You would've loved Ella. I know it. Because I love her, more than I ever thought I could. I wish you could've met her."

He wanted to say more, but a strange noise from behind interrupted him. Quietly he turned around, finding nothing in the darkness but the familiar shadows of the garden bushes stretched across the ground. The breeze changed to cold wind that send chills up the Prince's back. Though everything appeared okay something felt…strange.

Charles drew his coat close around his shoulders and decided to retire to the palace. After all, he reasoned, he should've been asleep anyway. He, Ella and his father were beginning the voyage to Arendelle in the morning for the big celebration. Ella had been looking forward to meeting Princess Anna and the Queen, since they'd missed the coronation they held nearly two years ago. He was actually a bit nervous about the whole thing. Both girls had always been a great mystery to most of the royal children, himself included, growing up. No one ever saw them when they were young. King Agnarr and Queen Iduna attended very few of their balls before they died, but the princesses never came with them. Of course that lead to horrible gossip about them. Some people said they were both born ugly and the King and Queen were ashamed of them. Others said that they were both too frail to leave the palace and it would only be a matter of time before they died and left Arendelle with an unsure future. Prince Charles had heard so many things, he wasn't sure what to believe. But he did know that now that Princess Elsa was Queen, Arendelle seemed much more open and friendly, even though the nasty gossip had taken its toll, and most were still wary of traveling there.

A snap of a branch made Prince Charles jump and he spun around, looking from side to side anxiously. Something certainly wasn't right. Everything was always peaceful in the gardens, and the only noises at night usually came from the water of the fountains. Even though he saw nothing, he rushed back through the hedges. He was headed for the fountain, where he knew there was a single tree tall enough for him to climb and see the entire garden in the moonlight. In no time, he was back where he began. Glancing around, he still saw nothing to make him worry and while he stood still and tried to catch his breath, he thought about how silly he was being.

"You're not a child anymore" he scolded himself. To run all this way because of a few noises in the dark? "Phillip wouldn't have done such a thing."

But then he chuckled and shook his head. "Yes he would have. Phillip wouldn't have been afraid. But he would've been curious. Little brothers always stick their noises places where they don't belong."

He couldn't help but think, however, that his older brothers wouldn't have been afraid. And whenever he thought even a little about them, a lump the size of an apple formed in his throat making it hard to breath. Then the tears he concealed made his face hot and speaking unbearable. Maybe, he thought, I should just go inside.

Before he could move, he felt both his arms being jerked behind him. He struggled, but couldn't break free. He could hardly move them at all. It felt like they trapped in stone.

"Gua-!" He tried to call for help, but was silenced by long, thin hand that covered his mouth. Why didn't I go inside when I had the chance, he thought. Twisting from side to side was useless and his muffled screams did nothing but delight his unseen captors. They laughed at him, and tightened their grip. Charles wished he could've at least seen their faces, but they held him forward. What he finally did see was the glow of a green ring, slipped on the finger of the hand that kept him silent.

"Prince Charles," said one of the voices behind him. It was eerie, low, and, much to Charles's dismay, menacing. "You don't realize it yet, but you're going to help me greatly. So I hope you said your goodbye's to your Ella. The next time you see her, if you ever see her again, she'll be back where she belongs. Scrubbing floors and washing windows. Because you and the rest of those idiotic, self-righteous, 'charming' princes are going to lead to the downfall of your perfect kingdoms From now on, there will be no more wishes. No more fairy tales. And certainly, no more happily ever after."