AN: Hi everyone! Apologising profusely for how late this is, I hope the extra length makes up for this.
Thank you all again for the support this story has received so far, you're all wonderful.
Please do leave a review, I absolutely love to hear what you all think!
Enjoy :-)

The young man gasped in terror as he took in the state of the town before him. It was devastated. Who could have done this? Eyes straining through gusts of smoke, he managed to make out little movement aside from the occasional piece of cloth moving in the afternoon breeze. Deciding to investigate further, he began down the steady path towards the gates.

Deciding it would be wise to leave the steed away from the debris and the small patches of remaining fires, he chose a small section of fence which had been spared by the attackers to tether the horse to. Satisfied with his handiwork, the messenger stood back and turned to face the entrance to the Northern city.

They hung wide open, metal and wood dented and bruised through some great display of power. He crept in through the entrance, hyperaware of the danger able to present itself from within the ravaged town.

That's when the stench hit him.

He held his stomach as he took in the state of guards which once protected the great town's entrance. Crumpled in their posts they lay, innards dashed out and meeting the pavement in red. The messenger boy clenched his jaw and turned his face away.

Making his way through the small town only proved to add to his sorrows. Familiar businesses and family homes with their doors kicked in and goods stolen. Some even damaged far beyond repair. With a heavy heart he passed the shop of the local tailor's. The elderly man who ran the store was a friend of his own, and had shown him great kindness whenever his work brought him to Belemere. Once, he had even offered the boy a bed to sleep in for the night, to delay his return to the capital city during a particularly viscous thunderstorm. Curiosity bending his will, he entered the small establishment through the small door which once protected its entrance.

Holding his breath as he entered each room in turn, the messenger boy carefully checked through each room of the downstairs store, and then the small living quarters located on the second floor. He hoped beyond hope that he would find no trace of his friend, as he did with the guards.

Each room showed signs of a break in, however none of the old man who worked here. Chairs and tables lay strewn across the floor in disarray, and he sighed at the empty racks and shelves which were once packed with perfectly tailored goods. Once satisfied that this was the case, he quietly left the premises with the knowledge that the old man had escaped somehow.

The young man stood in the middle of street as he contemplated his next move. Obviously he had to return and inform the royals of the state of the northern city; however he wished he could report with more information about the assailants. The deep colours of the flag now flying above the head household's rooftop were unfamiliar. He was not aware of any fiefs within his home kingdom which sported such colours, or even those of other countries whose dignitaries he himself had had the task of delivering messages to. Puzzlement scrawled across his face, he thought over the possibility of furthering his investigation deeper within the city, but logic won out in the end and turned his path back towards the town gates.

He reasoned that once occupied, one would not simply leave their new city on its own for very long, perhaps there was a presence guarding the city he was not yet aware of.

These thoughts on his mind, he whispered a silent prayer to the men lost within the city, retrieved his horse from its tether, and left.

His pace quickened and an icy vice clutched at his heart when the tops of spears and the sound of clattering of hooves rose over the tip of the hill in the distance.

Erik sat relaxed in his chair as he awaited his mother in her study. She had called him here for a meeting earlier, and was yet to arrive herself. He wouldn't be surprised if she had become distracted somehow, and knew how scatter-brained his mother could sometimes become in her work. She would often abandon tasks in the pursuit of others as they became apparent in her mind. So he waited good-naturedly, knowing she would eventually remember her request and join him.

The prince took the time to think over the events of the past few days. His stomach churned nervously as he thought about the fact that he now played a part in running the kingdom, and the heavy load of responsibility swiftly deposited onto his young shoulders as a result.

Erik was glad of the recent arrival of their friends from the north, and was happy to hear that they had extended their trip for a while longer, especially as it allowed him more time to spend in Anna's company. The young girl was exactly as he remembered, a small smile touching his features as he remembered the funny antics of his childhood friend. How she would start a tale and not finish until every stop in her train of thought had been reached in exuberant detail, and how when they walked through the castle grounds her feet would lose the ground more often than they would find it.

He noticed that his own face was still stuck with a dopey smile and came to the realisation of just how much the lady's presence affected him. The prince was aware that he had somewhat developed feelings for the redhead, but continued to find himself at awe as to how much brighter she made his day without even trying. He had even told Elsa so. On the afternoon before his coming of age ball, she had approached him in the halls and questioned him about his actions towards the visiting family.

"But you kissed her hand," Elsa stated with a raised eyebrow and corresponding smirk. Erik had only been walking the halls towards the restroom when his sister had appeared out of nowhere and bombarded him with questions. He had to admit, it was almost out of character for his older sister to be acting in such a fashion. Her usual composure was just slightly out of whack as she grilled him on the topic of their new house guests.

"I don't see how in any way that pertains to me possessing feelings for Lady Anna." Erik denied for the third time. He knew that Elsa had in fact figured him out but he wasn't quite ready to relent to her questioning just yet.

"Of course it does," she turned from her position walking astride him to block his path with a stare. "Just tell me," she added, squinting her eyes at her brother in an effort to stare the answers out of his mind.

After a moment of silence Erik finally gave in. "Fine." He sighed and continued walking down the corridor. "I believe I may have… developed some sort of feelings towards Lady Anna." The prince stated. He waited with bated breath through the duration of his older sister's silence, heart hammering away in anticipation.

"I see." Erik's head whipped sideways as her response. That was it? After all her efforts on the matter she gives him a miniscule two word response completely devoid of emotion. Now he really was concerned for his sister's sanity. She appeared to be deep in thought for a moment before adding, "I knew it." The triumphant smirk which then graced her features snapped Erik out of any illusion he had created regarding his sister's change in personality. It was Elsa again. Erik rolled his eyes in exasperation.

Elsa turned and left in the opposite direction without another word.

Erik was snapped out of his thoughts by his mother striding into the room and delicately placing herself down in the chair across from his own. He shot upwards from the back of his chair, back ram-rod straight and chin level as his mother pulled her chair in towards the vast wooden desk between them.

"Erik I'm so very sorry…" his mother began before a wave of his hand quietened her apology.

"It's fine mother, I didn't mind waiting," the prince replied in a placating tone. He knew that his mother would stress about her actions if not put at ease. "What is it that you'd like to discuss?"

The Queen smiled at her son gratefully before clasping her hands together on the desk's surface in front of her and taking a deep breath in preparation. "Over the past few days we have had many discussions about the various duties you will need to fulfil as a part of being an of-age member of the royal family. Many of which you have already taken on board, I commend you for this Erik, and you are making your father and I very proud," she continued with a rewarding smile, "however there is one matter which we are yet to discuss." His mother's face changed at this, and she looked as though she was attempting to find the words for her next request. "As the first male child of the royal family it falls to you to take the throne should anything happen to your father and I, because of this it also your responsibility to take a bride who is fit to rule the kingdom. I have been discussing with your father along with a few other dignitaries and I think that we have found someone who may be perfect."

Erik was shocked. His eyes flitted around the room rapidly as he took in the information his mother had given him. Not only was he suddenly aware of the expectations to find a bride on himself, but he was expected to endure an arranged marriage. He had always assumed he would meet a girl on his own and fall in love, not be forced into a ceremony with someone whom he had barely met.

His eyes met his mother's again before asking, "who is she?"

"Lady Anna." There was a long silence. "I can tell you know, that you care for her."

Erik groaned and dropped his face into his hands. "I know, mother, I'm not ashamed to admit that I have developed feelings for her," his voice was muffled by his palms and he raised it again in order to be heard by the older woman. "But I still wouldn't wish this on her by force."

"You don't know she doesn't feel the same way."

"I don't know she does, and I'd rather give her the chance to find out herself rather than push things in this way," Erik was growing angry at this point, as much as he wanted Anna he knew it was immoral to simply take her hand without her own consent. He wished to court her, have her fall in love with him the natural way without all of this pressure placed around them.

"It's too late; I've already asked her father. He would think it rude to back out now without giving a proper reason, which I am yet to hear from you," the Queen paused to cast a sympathetic look towards her only son, "It's been, decided Erik, I'm sorry."

"Has she been informed yet?"

"No, her father planned to tell her within the day." Erik nodded his understanding, and rose to his feet in defeat.

"Is there anything else you wished to discuss?" He asked solemnly, wanting nothing but to escape from the room.

"No, that is all." The prince nodded once again before leaving the room in silence.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the castle, Elsa was caught by surprise as a small hand wrapped around her wrist out of nowhere and pulled her into an adjacent broom cupboard. She giggled as she recognised her captor's cheeky face as the door was slammed shut behind her, the light of a small candle illuminating the cramped space she now found herself in.

"Why hello there," she greeted playfully.

Anna responded by delicately leaning forward and meeting her lips slowly with Elsa's and tangling her fingers in the hair at the back of her neck. Elsa placed her hands on the girl's waist as they moved together and decided she could never get tired of this. For the past few days the pair had met a few times in a similar fashion, hiding away in alcoves of the castle, concealed in cupboards and behind locked doors. They had to be careful, and make sure no-one saw what they were doing, out of fear of being sent away from each other.

They had never gone any further than that up until that point, and while kissing was a major activity in their secret rendezvous, a great deal of time was also spent talking, as Elsa longed to find out as much as she possibly could from the Lady of the north.

They knew that what they were doing was considered wrong, and the thought brought Elsa's mind to Erik. She felt incredibly guilty about continuing to pursue the younger girl, mainly due to their conversation before the ball. She knew about Erik's admiration, yet she decided to go after her anyways. She had completely disregarded her brother's feelings and she felt terrible. The princess hoped that she would find the courage to inform her brother of her own feelings before anything got out of hand.

She felt Anna lean back and opened her eyes to see her opening her own eyes with a slightly dazed expression glazed over them.

"How was your meeting?" Anna asked, remaining in Elsa's hold and shifting her hands so they rested instead on her shoulders.

"Boring without you there." Elsa felt a small spike of self-pride as she saw Anna's smile widen at the comment.

"Glad I can help to ease the boredom then", Anna replied as she pulled Elsa in again. This time their movements were more urgent, and their kiss deepened almost immediately. It was getting rather hot and heavy before sound of a servant passing the cupboard door pulled them out of their embrace.

Both girls stood there for a moment catching their breath until Elsa sighed and accepted the fact that their little meeting had come to an end. She didn't want to risk anything. That servant could have opened the door to find them in a very compromising position.

Elsa straightened out a few of the hairs on her head from the encounter before opening the door for her companion and allowing her to pass through first.

The pair began walking down the corridor to prepare for dinner when a footman rushed up to the women.

"Your highness, a messenger boy has returned from Belemere, he says he has urgent news."