Several months passed and Annika continued to go to the river even though Aiden never showed up.

After a year, it was starting to get hard to remember what he even looked like, and she found herself even forgetting what his name was.

Two years had passed since Aiden disappeared, and it was Annika's 18th birthday.

Annika carefully threw back her covers and stood up. It was a beautiful day outside… perfect for skating.

She tiptoes over to her wardrobe and quickly changed into a dark blue skirt and a red jacket. Then she slid on her red boots.

She then went over to her vanity desk and twisted back the sides of her hair tied them in the back. Then she tied the end of her hair to keep the wind from tangling it. And to keep it out of her face.

She snuck over to her door and pressed her ear to the wood. The silent sound of snoring could be heard.

With a slight smile, she grabbed her pink skates off of her desk and carefully opened the door.

The two guards, one on either side of the door, were sound sleep, leaning heavily on their spears.

Annika softly closed her door behind her as she stepped out. Then, she sent the guards a mock salute and ran down the hall, down one flight of steps, and another flight of steps and out the front door.

She glanced around and spotted the guards standing at their posts around the wall "My parents are way too worried." She huffed as she picked up a rock and threw it. It banged the roof behind the guard, causing the guard to spin around. While he was distracted, she took the opportunity to run. And that's how it went every morning.

She ran out the gates and disappeared through some woods.

When she arrived at the river, she closed her eyes and felt the cold wind blow across her face. She remembered skating down this river with her best friend… hand in hand… together.

She shook her head as she bent over to put on her skates, then she stepped out onto the ice and pushed off.

She hummed to herself as she skated down the river. The icy breeze whipped her hair as leapt and spun. She waved to a robin that flew by almost every day to watch her.

All of the sudden, her feet flew out from under her and she landed on the ice with a *Thud* on the ice. From the corner of her eye, she saw something white slide into a pile of snow.

"What was that?" she mumbled as she stood to her feet. She noticed a very small, sprawled out imprint in the snow. She skated over to the spot and tried to find what had tripped her "Hello?" she started to reach into the hole, when a Polar Cub suddenly popped it's head out. Annika jumped back in shock, then laughed "There are easier ways to introduce yourself." She reached towards the cub "Here. Let me help you."

The bear stared at her, then shivered.

"Aw… Don't be afraid."

The bear's teeth continued to chatter at Annika pulled it form the snow "Don't tell me you're… cold?" The bear nodded "A cold Polar bear?" she smiled at the animal.

Of course, the bear was snowy white and had bright blue eyes, and the cutest face "Do you have a family?"

"Uh-uh." The bear answered, shaking her head.

"Well, now you do." Annika tucked the bear warmly in her arms "I think I'll call you Shiver. And you're coming home with me." She blew a strand of hair from her face "How I'm going to explain you to my parents… I have no idea." She looked down at the cup and chuckled "Or, maybe I can just get you into the palace without them seeing you." She shrugged "Works for me." Then she left the ice and headed for home "First, we get pass the guards. Then get past my parents."

She sipped up to the gate and used the same tactic to get in as she did to get out. She glanced up at one of the palace windows and groaned "Dad." She waited till he walked away before she ran up the steps and then slipped through the castle door. "Don't see me. Don't see me." She thought as she ran up the first flight of stairs, then the second. She sighed with relief "Almost the…"

"Annika! Is that you?"

The princess froze "Oh great." "Uh… Mother!" she laughed nervously, then sat Shiver around the corner where her Mother couldn't see her "Stay there." She whispered. Then she went down the steps to where her mother was.

"Oh, you're safe! Safe!" The queen hugged her daughter tightly.

"What happened?" The King asked, coming to join them "We've been looking everywhere for you!"

Annika rolled her eyes "I'm fine Father, really!"

The queen shook her head "We were worried sick! How many times have we told you. Don't leave the castle…"

"Without our permission!" The King finished with her.

"Let's see. 365 times 10…3,650." "I was just skating."

Her father huffed "Again?"

"Why do you always worry so much?" her voice raised an octave "Nothing's going to happen to me."

"Whoa!"

Annika spun around and watched as Shiver came bouncing down the stairs, then landed flat on the floor.

"A bear!?" The queen gasped.

Annika flashed them a smile "I… made a friend. Isn't she adorable?"

Shiver looked up at the King and Queen and sent them her cutest look.

The queen was sold "Oh! Such a cute little face!" but only for a moment "But it could bite you! O… Or scratch your eyes out!" Shiver sneezed just then "And the germs! Have you even thought of all the germs it might have?"

The King shook his head "This is what comes from leaving the castle."

Annika felt her temper rising "What do you want me to do? Sit in my room all day?"

"Yes!" her parents answered in unison.

"I'm not a baby anymore!"

The queen stepped forward "We know. We know. It's just that…"

The king stepped forward, sparing the Queen from having to explain any further "I'm sorry. But your mother and I can't take this constant worrying. Our job is to keep you safe, and there's only one way to do that. No more Iceskating."

Annika stepped back "What!? I love skating!"

Her father looked away from her "It's for your own good."

"Father!" when he didn't answer, she turned to her mother "Mother, please!" but the queen simply crossed her arms and looked away.

The king held his hand out. Annika looked down at the skates. The skates he had given her a mere 42 hours before he disappeared. He had made them… for her. He had loved skating as much as she did, and now… "It's not fair!" she cried as she put the skates into her father's hands "You don't understand anything!" she turned and ran up the stairs "You're ruining my life!" then she ran to her room, tears streaming down her face. She slammed the door behind her then threw herself onto the bed "That was the last thing I had." She cried into her pillow "He's gone, and now Dad took my skates! I don't want to forget him! He was my best friend!" A scratching sound at her door pulled her from her bed. When she opened the door she saw Shiver sitting there.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to leave you behind." She said as she reached down and picked up the cub "It's just…" she sat Shiver on her bed "They're so… I mean…" she huffed with frustration and sat down on a bench that was at the end of the bed "How could they do this to me? On my birthday!" she shook her head, not noticing Shiver's sudden interest in a truck that was across the room "I never get to have any fun. Never! They worry about every little thing!" she shook her head "If it wasn't for… um… What was his name?" she dropped her head in her hands, only to look back up when she heard her chest lid close. It opened a second later to reveal Shiver wearing some of Annika's jewelry.

Annika laughed "I see you're as upset about this as I am." She walked over to the chest and pulled the bear out "If only you could understand." Some music drafted in through her balcony doors, so she went out to listen. Down in the town, the kingdom was having a party, probably in her honor. They were out on a pond ice skating "Hm. At least someone's having fun on my birthday." She watched as pairs of skaters leisurely skated around "If only I could go." She thought, then she smiled "Why not? Shiver, we're going to a party!"

(Well, hopefully I'll get Aiden back into the story in the next chapter, it just takes a bit to get to that point. I hope you enjoy!)