Fractalis

"Mmmm, Cocoa". Anna snuggled back into the loveseat and drank down the warm chocolate, watching her sister and Kristoff make ice-sculptures in the ballroom. Olaf and Sven were just goofing off.

Elsa had the unfair advantage, ice being her natural element, but Kristoff was surprisingly good at carving ice. Anna felt a bit of pride for her would-be suitor.

"You're cheating again." Kristoff complained as Elsa swept her arm to form a particularly delicate face for her scultpture. "We agreed to use the chisels!"

"I just can't" Elsa grinned, chiseling the collarbone and sending the frosty spray towards him. "The ice is alive, I want to dance with it."

Kristoff laughed, "No argument there." He left the statue of his ice-troll that he was carving to take the frozen hands of Elsa's ice-maiden. "May I have the first dance?"

Elsa giggled, waving her wrist, the sculpture coming alive to waltz clumsily with Kristoff across the icy floor.

"Don't forget me!" Anna jumped up, heading for Elsa, but was intercepted by Olaf along the way. The merry bunch skated and danced, having a wonderful summer's evening, until a loud knock at the door interrupted.

Elsa opened it, allowing the butler and a blast of warm air inside.

"Pardon me, your majesty, but a schooner from the Southern Isles has arrived in the Port".

"An official visit?" Elsa showed a trace of panic on her face.

"No," The butler bowed, "An urgent message. Pardon the presumption, but I thought you would wish to hear it immediately." He gestured, and a rain soaked man stepped into the room, shivering and breathing heavily. He must have ran from the dock.

Elsa immediately warmed the air around the shivering man as Anna raced over with a blanket and some cocoa.

"Yes, what is it?" Elsa coaxed him.

"Your majesties." The man coughed, holding the cocoa mug tight. "Firstly we must apologize for the actions -"

Elsa shook her head, "There is nothing you -"

"But there has been a terrible mix-up." The man interrupted. "The boat that arrived in our harbor, and the messenger carrying such a tale of woe, to think a prince of ours could have plotted such a thing - it was bearing Prince Brinker, not Prince Hans."

"Who - what?" Anna crinkled her forhead.

"Prince Brinker is the older twin of Prince Hans. He is in a similar situation, as twelfth in line to the throne. They both were present in Arendelle, both for the coronation and to strengthen trade relations with Weselton". The man took a long draft of cocoa, leaving his listeners in suspense. "Prince Brinker has confessed to conspiring with the Duke of Weselton. The two took advantage of Prince Han's situation as the fiancee' of Princess Anna and his position as temporary regent of Arendelle. Prince Brinker was to replace Prince Hans, which he did shortly after the Prince returned from the mountain with Queen Elsa. The Duke was to dispose of Elsa, though I am fortunate he failed in that endeavor."

"That's right." Elsa whispered. "Prince Han's saved my life. I thought later that it must have been an act, or that he purposefully aimed for the chandelier to try to kill me himself".

"So," Anna said slowly, "You are saying Hans didn't try to kill my sister? Or me? It was his brother?"

"Exactly." The man wrapped the blanket tighter. "Which brings me to why I am here. By Prince Brinker's account, he attacked his own brother and tossed him in the dungeon".

"But that was two weeks ago!" Anna's face blanched.

"Then we need to search for him." Kristoff offered, a lump in his throat.

"Immediately." Elsa agreed. "Send word to the guards," She ordered the butler. "We will scour the castle."