"Didn't your parents ever warn you about strangers?" asked Kristoff as he hitched his reindeer, Sven, to his sled. Anna and Elsa were also outside, with the former wearing cylan gloves, black-heeled boots, and a magenta cape with matching cap on her head. Olaf was there too, though, this time without the cloud of snow above his head. The temperature was slowly decreasing now with the storm now halfway down the mountain. There were a few guards waiting at the gates on the wall and the doors that led to the castle. Besides them the courtyard was relatively empty.

"Yes," said Elsa slowly, slightly embarrassed by her own quick decision making.

"Oh, come on Kris," said Anna her hands on her hips. "Remember our first meeting? And look how that turned out?"

"Yeah, you're right," agreed the ice harvester reluctantly. "By the way what you told us about him he sounds like a creep."

"Well, that is no way to treat your guide!"

Everyone turned around to see Rumpelstiltskin leaning against one of the fountains. He approached Sven and with a wave of his hand a carrot appeared in a puff of smoke.

"Hey!" exclaimed Kris grabbing the carrot. "No one feeds Sven carrots but me."

There was a small "ahem" coming from the ladies.

"And Anna," added Kris as he took a bite.

"As you wish," replied Rumpelstilskin casually. "By the way that carrot's enchanted to turn people into a dwarf."

Kristoff spat out the carrot.

"That one was a quip," cackled Rumpel. "Not serious."

Kris glared at him and turned to find Sven already eating the carrot from his hand. Kris turned back to both ladies as Rumpelstiltskin came up to them.

He whispered to the reindeer, "Is it just me or does Elsa's cheeks seem a little pink to you?"

"Well, your highnesses, shall we go on our merry adventure?" he asked.

"What about your end of the bargain?" demanded Elsa.

"That's what I meant," he pointed out. With his free hand he reached into the folds of his inner robe and pulled out something that they couldn't see.

"What is that?" asked Anna.

"Invisible chalk, dearie," he explained. He held it to her. "I'm going to need you to draw a circle around me."

He stepped back and held his staff above his head as Anna got down on her knees and started rubbing the invisible chalk on the stone around him.

"So what is that supposed to do?" asked Olaf.

"It's a protection spell," Rumpel replied.

"So what is that supposed to do?" Olaf repeated.

Rumpel sighed impatiently. "It's going to protect the staff while it holds the spell around the kingdom." He turned to Elsa. "Does this guy have any brains?"

Elsa covered her mouth to shield her giggle.

Olaf answered instead, "I don't have a brain…or a heart."

Rumpelstiltskin rolled his eyes, and looked down to see Anna nearly finished. "Hold on, dearie, I'm going to need a way out first."

With that he slams the staff onto the courtyard, and it stood still on its own while the spell came out of its top and rose to encompass the kingdom. He then stepped out and indicated to Anna to continue. He approached the sled and held his hand to Elsa.

"Your highness."

Elsa lightly smiled at his gentlemanly manner and took his hand as she stepped onto the sled. Kris rolled his eyes, but then stepped forward to do the same with Anna as soon as she was finished. He also stepped onto the sled and took the reigns. Olaf got in the back with the blankets, kindle, and some food.

Rumpelstiltskin turned to face Elsa. "Now this spell can protect the kingdom from the wind and snow. However, it cannot stop it from getting colder here. And anyone leaving here cannot get back in."

"I understand," the queen replied.

"What about you?" asked Anna.

Rumpelstiltskin smiled at her and then started waving his hands into the air. The snow around them rose and swirled. Before they knew it there was a horse made out of snow right beside the sled. Touching the snow-horse with his hand, it turned to ice and came alive. On its back was a saddle; reins were in its mouth, and even the mane waved when the horse shook its head. Rumpelstiltskin got on it and put his scarf up on his face.

"Shall we go?" his muffled voice came from the scarf. Without waiting for an answer he took off toward the open gates.

At Kristoff's urging Sven raced after the magic steed in hot pursuit. To his right he heard the queen mumble something along the lines of "show off."

Something was definitely changing the queen and he had a funny feeling that this new guy was causing it.