"McLaughlin, where the hell are you boy? The horses needed feeding hours ago."

A 5'3 man called up towards a window of a hut. Hearing the call, a teen with messy fiery red hair poked his head out of the window. With a yawn escaping the teens mouth, he called back.

"Hold ya horses stable master, ah'm on me way now, Ah was writing to me ol' Ma back in Scotland."

The boy who had called back to the stable master in his thick, broad scottish accent. This is the story of a boy named James McLaughlin. Born into the royal family of Scotland, James soon found his fortuned when he found his move to Arendelle after an argument with his aunt over something that had happened between his cousin Merida and the black bear of legend. This story however, is how our hero felt a touch of frost to his warm Scottish heart.

Rattlesnake316 Presents

The Frozen Horseman

After getting dressed in his work best, Jim walked himself downstairs. Only to find the stable master was waiting for him by the door of the cottage with a big smirk on his face at the sight of James' ginger hair appearing from the cottage trying to put his hair in a low ponytail while trying to eat the bread in his mouth. Once he approached the short stable master, James spoke.

"You summoned me sir?"

The old stable master couldn't help but smile at the young lad in front of him. Always enthusiastic and ready to work no matter the hours. Today though however, he felt it would be his toughest task yet.

"Today, Jim lad, we've had a very important request from the King and Queen of Arendelle."

This caused James to stop what he was doing and sit down on the wall of the bridge he was leaned on to ask Sven.

"The king and queen ya say, na what would the king and queen be requesting of us sir?"

"They have asked me to send them someone to tutor the two princesses at horse riding, and I said I'd send you over to teach them how to ride horses."

Sven finished his sentence just as James jumped down from the wall with wide grin on his face before asking, making Sven chuckle at the young lads eagerness.

"When do I begin?"

In reply, the stable master whistled over to James' mare horse, Lightning, As she trotted over to the two of them, she earned a scratch behind her ears from James as he got seated onto the saddle. Making sure he was seated properly on his horse, James brought her round towards the bridge before facing Master Sven as he promptly spoke.

"They want you there by midday today Jim lad, you'll be paid when lessons are complete."

James nodded in understanding before speaking.

"I won't let you down Sven..." With a smile before shouting. "...Lets go Lightning, YA."

Lightning broke into a gallop as she sprinted off towards the castle not knowing the adventure that awaited the 18 year old scot.

At the Castle, Afternoon

"Must you go?"

A scared Princess Elsa asked her parents, the king and queen of Arendelle. With reassurance, the two parents held their daughter tightly in reassurance before the Queen spoke.

"We'll be back in a couple of days, no later, don't worry."

The Queen kissed her eldest daughter on the forehead before walking away with the servants to the docks. As the two approached the boat, the King noticed a black horse appear in the distance, away from them before speaking to his wife.

"Ah this must be the horse master's apprentice."

As the horse slowed up next to the King and Queen, James pulled his hood back and revealed his ginger hair that was back in a low ponytail.

As he dismounted and bowed to the King and Queen, he spoke while bowed.

"Your Majesties, James McLaughlin, Apprentice Horse Keeper to Master Sven Gortinsson, at your service."

Once he was stood from his bow, he continued.

"I heard from my stable master you summoned me to help your daughters learn to ride horses."

The Queen stepped forward and spoke on her husbands behalf.

"Thank you for coming young master James, I wish you luck as me and the King head to Corona, The payment of 600 Krone will be given to your stable master on our return, take care and...be careful with our eldest daughter."

The last statement stuck with James, but he let it slip over his head as he bowed again quickly before saying as he stood up.

"Aye your Majesties, may the wind be ever in your favour and do have a safe journey."

As James remounted his horse and broke into a light trot towards the palace. He noticed the sun was out in full force this fine afternoon. With one look to the palace gates. As expected, he was greeted by the head servant. An elderly woman named Gerda. As she helped him dismount from Lightning, a stable boy approached the mare. Instead of letting the boy take her to the stable. Lightning flared up and made the boy back away in fear. When she noticed James stood in front of her with arms folded and eyebrow raised, she soon backed down.

"Lightning, go with the stable boy, he won't hurt you girl, I can promise you that."

With that said, Lightning reluctantly went with the stable boy towards the stables, but not without whinnying in sadness towards James as he walked away to the castle with Gerda. The first question on his mind was his first doozy of the day.

"So who am I teaching first?"

In reply, the servant motioned for James to follow her inside.

Bedroom Hallways

As they approached a door with a spring pattern on it, James assumed this was the daughter the Queen mentioned was fragile. His thoughts were soon interrupted by the head servant speaking to get his attention.

" If I may ask, How old are you exactly James?"

"I'm 18 Ma'am"

James could only reply with a smile as Gerda stood there flabbergasted at the revelation before saying.

"A horse master at such a young age!?"

"Aye lass, I was taught to tame horses by me ol' pa back in Scotland, Dundee to be exact."

James replied causing Gerda to be impressed by the young man in front of her. However she soon quickly refocused back on the door. Because without warning, a strawberry-blonde blur crashed into James from behind the door. With a daze in his eyes, the girl spoke apologetically.

"Oh my, I am so sorry, are you ok?, I know I should have looked where I was going..."

James held his hand up to stop the girl from talking, Once he had brushed himself and made himself look presentable, he spoke.

"No worries princess, oh where are my manners, James McLaughlin at your service princess."

he said with his hand out to shake the princess' hand. Which she shook energetically while speaking.

"So your my tutor for today's horse riding lesson?"

Once the vibrations from the princesses handshake had stopped, James spoke with a smile.

"Yes ma'am. Once you are ready, we can start now if you like."

"Really?!"

Before James knew it and could speak any more words, Anna rushed back into her room and closed the door shut, leaving a slightly bewildered James in her tracks. With a small laugh at the hyper 15 year old being herself. James waited patiently for the young girl. Something, or should I say, someone, had caught his attention by the ear, as when he turned round, he had come face to face with the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen in his 18 year exsistence.

"Are you the horse riding tutor?"

The girl asked shyly making James' heart melt from how adorable she was being, he tried to put on his bravado, only for it to come out as a stuttering mess.

"Y..yes Princess...Elsa is it?

James bowed to Elsa causing a small smile to fault on her lips. But like her parents had told her, she had to keep her emotions in check as not to cause some snow to fall. Now with some regained confidence, Elsa spoke clearly.

"Pleasure to meet you James, I'm sure we will become good friends in the future."

James breathed easily knowing he'd slightly broken down Elsa's barriers of her shyness, before speaking again himself.

"Great, I'll be with your sister first, then I'll come back and get you."

James reassured the 18 year old princess with a charming grin which caused her to giggle a sweet sound. But the melodious laughter soon stopped because as soon as Elsa walked back into her room and slammed the door shut, Anna had come back out into the hallway.

"Were you speaking to my sister just then?"

James looked at the younger princess before he spoke softly to her, considering the situation he was in, he felt that coming up with the most convincing lie possible without hurting the older teens feelings, who had just locked herself in her room. Would convince Anna.

"You were hearing things princess, anyway, shall we go to the stables?"

Coral

"Lightning."

The black mare in question, trotted over to her owner and licked his face lovingly, causing James to glare playfully at his steed before he climbed onto the saddle and rubbed his steeds neck, with Lightning ready to go, he focused on the princess at the side of him.

"You ready to go?"

With Elsa

Elsa's P.O.V.

"Just be careful princess, your horse can get very jumpy, that's it, you've taken to this rather quickly my dear."

I could hear the Scottish accent as clear as day through my bedroom window, the sound filled me with wonder. As I looked out to see my sister learning how to ride like a master, she rode circles round the tutor who just sat by the fence impressed with how far she had come as he called out.

"Keep this up and you'll be ready for anything Anna."

Despite the praise, I could feel the sharp steel blade of betrayal eat away at me when my sister said.

"I really miss my sister"

I felt my heart tighten and my lungs begin to burn from the breath I had held in. As the tears threatened to sting my eyes, snow started to fall around me in my room, but when I lay eyes on the tutor, I see something in his eyes twinkle.

"He's scared of me, the poor fool doesn't know how to react to me, he couldn't even say a word to me when he saw me, should I really go through with this, no conceal, control it."

End of P.O.V.

With Anna's lesson wrapped up, the young girl decided to head into town while James headed back to the castle where Elsa was waiting on him. As he knocked on the door and waited expectedly for an answer. A platinum blonde princess appeared with gloves on her hands, surprising James but deciding to ignore it as he spoke.

"Shall we Princess."

James holds his hand out for Elsa to take. She placed her own gloved hand onto his exposed skin as they walked down the hall ways holding hands.

Outside

As they get to the coral, Elsa notices all the horses looking at her funny, causing the teen to try and turn away. That was until James stepped into the coral with Lightning, making the horses stand in attention. This caused Elsa to look on in wonder at what James had done to calm the rowdy looking horses. With one look at Lightning and the Princess, he pulled a lute from behind his back before saying.

"Ok listen up, we have a second new learner today, I'll play this for you but I want you to show the future queen some respect, Ok."

As James struck a chord on his lute, Elsa attempted to climb upon her horse that she herself had chosen. Luckily the horse was soothed into a trance by James' song as his voice soon rang clear.

When the cold wind is a calling
And the sky is clear and bright,
Misty mountains sing and beckon,
Lead me out into the light.

Elsa made sure she was sat correctly before getting the horse to go into a steady trot causing her to smile as she stroked her steeds mane, making James smile too as he continued singing.

I will ride, I will fly,
Chase the wind and touch the sky,
I will fly,
Chase the wind and touch the sky.

James watched with a grin as he walked towards the pen door while on the back of Lightning before turning to face Elsa with grin still on his face as he asked.

"You ready to run?"

Elsa nodded, but got the shock of her life as her horse took off without warning after a sharp slap to the rear from James as they headed towards the woods.

Where dark woods hide secrets,
And mountains are fierce and bold,
Deep waters hold reflections,
Of times lost long ago.

"PRINCESS OPEN YOUR EYES, YOU'RE MISSING THE SCENERY."

James shouted excitedly, as the horses they were riding jumped some trees that were in the path as they raced through a clearing, Elsa was clinging on for dear life.

I will hear their every story,
Take hold of my own dream,
Be as strong as the seas are stormy,
And proud as an eagle's scream.

As Elsa slowly opened her eyes, she witnessed James undo his ponytail in one swift motion, making his red hair dance in the wind like fire burning up into the sky, This one act caused Elsa's eyes to widen and make her blush beet red.

I will ride, I will fly,
Chase the wind and touch the sky,
I will fly,
Chase the wind and touch the sky.

Conceal...

And touch the sky.

Don't feel...

Chase the wind, chase the wind.

Touch the sky.

With a sudden knock to her psyche, Elsa accidentally sent a straight blast of ice out from her fingertips causing Lightning to slip, as well as her horse, making it buck her off as she landed on her backside while the horse galloped back to the stables. When James sat back up however from the minor inconvenience, he whispered.

"Woa"

Elsa's breathe hitched in her throat when James whispered, he had seen everything and, in her eyes, he would now surely brand her a monster and never speak to her again, but what came next however, shocked her.

"That...was...AMAZING!"

James shouted out while laughing happily in the snow, Elsa however was confused by the reaction.

"Excuse me? You don't find this the least bit scary that I have ice magic?"#

Elsa asked with a hint of hopefulness, her heart sored when James replied.

"Na, lassie, it's colder in the glens than what you just did."

James smiled, and to Elsa, that was the warmest smile she'd ever see for awhile. As the two sat in the grass, James couldn't help but ask the Princess.

"What's it like, you know, to be an ice sorceress?, no offence, you don't have to answer."

James asked and he received his answer from the princess beside him.

"It's really scary. I got told to conceal it by my papa after what happened with Anna. I was really close with my sister until I…"

Elsa started to tear up from her explanation until James clasped her hand in his and looked at her with a warm smile, this one small act made Elsa smile as he spoke.

"Go on."

Elsa squeezed James' hand gently as she took a breathe and continued with her story

"...After I accidentally hit her in the head with my magic, we took her to see the trolls who erased my sister's memory of my magic, causing me to shut her out, in order to conceal my pain."

James sighed heavily. As he stood up and walked towards his bag that was lying on the ground. He rummaged through it before eventually finding what he was looking for before saying softly.

"Before I take you back to the palace and receive my payment, I want you to have this."

James produced a bar of chocolate from his bag before giving it to Elsa as a gift who had a look of disbelief in her eyes a the thoughtful present.

"You're giving me chocolate?"

Elsa asked in complete disbelief before taking it from him causing her to smile. Once he knew she was feeling comfortable. He spoke again.

"Elsa, what you have is a gift, even though you'll have to conceal and not feel anything around you, I hope you trust me when I say, Please...take off your gloves."

Elsa's smile faltered and the barrier re-emerged.

"Excuse me!?"

"Stay calm Elsa, I'm not trying to hurt you."

"Stay away from me James."

"Elsa, please."

"Please...I don't want to hurt you."

A huge shard of glass stopped James dead in his tracks. As he looked up, he felt it snow all around him. When he looked at the Princess stood before him, cowering in fear and afraid of him, This made James' heart break. So with resolve in mind and in one bold move. he wrapped his arms tightly around Elsa in a swift hug causing Elsa to cutely squeak in surprise, causing the snow stop in mid-air. As the stood in the hug and as she herself stood frozen, James whispered.

"Don't be afraid."

As James let go of the stunned princess and climbed onto Lightning, he extended his hand to the princess in one sincere move and said.

"May we?"

Now realising James would never bring harm to her, Elsa accepted the hand with a smile and climbed onto the back of Lightning and said.

"We may."

Back at the Castle

"Princess Elsa will not like the news Kai, heavens forbid, she will be devastated."

"We need to tell her Gerda, she deserves to know about her parents."

The maid and the butler continued to talk, completely oblivious of a set of hooves coming towards the castle. James, now with his fast asleep friend Princess Elsa sat behind him, laying her head on his back, thundered through the gates towards the castle. Only to be stopped in the courtyard where his master waiting for him with the 600 Krone in hand and a solemn look on his face, this could only mean one thing.

"Time to go Jim lad"

James noticed the deflated look on his masters face and couldn't help but say.

"Master Sven, what's happened. What happened?!"

Sven paused in horror. How was he going to tell the one person he considered a son, that his new friend's parents had been taken by the sea and that they had to stay away from the castle until the new queen is crowned or risk being banished. He didn't have long to think however before he noticed James carry Elsa into the castle.

Inside the Castle

Once James had carried Elsa up the stairs and into her room bridle style, he placed her in bed gently and pulled the covers up to her neck. Once he pulled one of her gloves off, he felt the Princess relax. Before he could take the other glove off her, he felt a delicate hand on his which felt surprisingly warm as he noticed Elsa's icy blue eyes staring at him lovingly. This however caused him to stand up carefully. Before saying.

"Your highness."

This caused Elsa to giggle before saying seriously.

"To you it's Elsa, Mr. McLaughlin."

James couldn't help but smile at the princesses sincerity before replying with.

"Please Elsa, just call me Jim."

Elsa sighed happily, What she did next was catch both themselves off guard as she pulled James towards her as their lips met for a short time, causing Elsa to blush. As James got up from the bed and smiled at Elsa. He bade her goodnight, before exiting the room. If only he knew, the next time he sees her, it won't be Princess, it will be Queen Elsa.