Chapter 4

Mikkel looked out the window as the king and queen left with Elsa and Anna on horseback. A trail of ice following the horse carrying Elsa. Mikkel wanted to go with but they had already left. He was really worried about Anna and hoped she would be okay. He wondered what had happened, did Anna slip and knock herself out? Mikkel decided he would never know until he asked. He did not sleep that night, his eyes scanning the horizon to see if the royal family was coming back. After what seemed like hours he saw two horses running through town and towards the castle. He smiled as he ran down to see Elsa. When he reached the royals he ran over with his arms outspread but Agdar stepped in between him and Elsa who was cowering in fear behind her fathers legs.

"Not now Mikkel." Agdar said quickly as they walked away.

"Elsa?" Mikkel said running over to her.

"No don't touch me!" Elsa cried jumping back in fear.

"I just want a hug." Mikkel said sadly.

"Mikkel that is ENOUGH!" Agdar yelled louder than he meant to. He immediately regretted it upon seeing Mikkel's face which was full of fear. Mikkel frowned as he ran back to his room.

"He didn't mean any harm." Idun said to her husband.

"I know, I will apologize later." Agdar said full of guilt as they put Anna and Elsa to bed. Mikkel ran to his room and jumped into his bed. He would not cry cause only babies cried and he was not a baby! He wondered why Elsa was so scared of him. Was it something he did? Mikkel quickly thought back to how he ran off last night when Elsa kissed him. He must have really hurt her feelings and now she didn't want to be his friend anymore.

"Oh I'm sorry Elsa." Mikkel said into his pillow. Sleep soon overtook him as he prayed he would get his best friend back.

The next morning saw a grim change to the castle. Many servants were let go for reasons they did not fully understand though the king and queen did provide them with pensions for their service. Unfortunately that also meant Mikkel and Analise.

"I do apologize for this Analise." Kai said full of guilt. "The king would not give me a specific reason why."

"Its alright Kai." Analise smiled. "Besides we have our pension which should be more than enough to provide for the both of us."

"I feel awful for poor Mikkel." Kai said noting the sad look on the boy as he sat staring out the window. "The princess got along so well with him."

"I really wish there was something I could do, maybe atleast allow Mikkel to stay with the princess." Analise said as she packed her final belongings. "Mikkel are you ready?"

"I'm gonna miss her." Mikkel said trying not to cry. He knew it was all his fault, if only he hadn't ran away when Elsa kissed him. Analise felt her heart ache seeing her son so sad. Part of Analise was enraged that the king would separate two young children like that but then she knew the king had his reasons.

"Can I atleast say goodbye?" Mikkel asked.

"Of course." Kai said putting his hand on Mikkel's back and bringing him to the hallway where Anna was standing with the King and Queen. Mikkel hesitantly moved forward for the fear that Agdar was still mad at him. Mikkel walked up to Anna who was already crying.

"Goodbye Anna." Mikkel said hugging her tightly. Mikkel hated goodbyes, first he had to say goodbye to his father and now his best friends. "I'm gonna miss you."

"I'm gonna miss you too!" Anna cried as tears burned her eyes. Mikkel didn't wanna let go. Anna had always been there to cheer him up with her silly jokes and smile. He finally pulled away to see her eyes red from the irritation of the tears.

"Where is Elsa?" He asked looking for the blonde girl.

"She's in her room, she can't come out I'm afraid." Idun said sadly.

"Not even for a hug?" Mikkel asked choking up. Idun shook her head. Mikkel sighed as he went to Elsa's door and knocked. "Elsa? I'm going now, I'm really gonna miss you. You are my bestest friend in the whole world." Mikkel said lowering his head. He stood there for a few moments waiting for a response but heard none.

"She really does hate me." Mikkel said sadly. Unbeknownst to him Elsa sat on the other side of the door. Her clothes stained with tears so heavy with sadness. She crawled to the door where Mikkel's voice was coming from and placed her hand on it. Just having nearby made her feel safe but now she would never see him again. She wished she could hug him one last time but she would only hurt him.

"Goodbye Mikkel." Elsa said as she broke down from the pain of losing her friend. Mikkel sighed and walked away from the door to face Idun and Agdar.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you last night." Agdar said putting his hand on Mikkel's shoulder. "Thank you for taking such good care of my daughters."

"This isn't permanent Mikkel." Idun chimed in. "We will open the gates again one day."

"Farewell your majesties." Analise said as she took Mikkel's hand and walked away with him. Mikkel looked back to see a heartbroken Anna waving to him. He waved back as they stepped outside the castle and doors were closed for good.

Several years Later.

Several years after the castle gates had been locked. Mikkel was now becoming a man, puberty struck him as his one chubby face began to shape to a strong jawline. His voice deepened as he grew taller. Muscles began to develop as his chest and shoulders grew broader. His gap in his teeth now filled and his once long hair n9tow cut neatly in a short trim. He had begun an apprenticeship with the royal guard much to the dismay of his mother who was terrified at the thought of her son going into battle. After much persuasion he had gotten her to agree. It was in his blood to be a soldier after all.

"Come on block!" An older muscular man yelled as he swung his wooden training sword down on Mikkel who was bleeding and sweating. The man, Captain Aksel Anders, was a good friend of Soren and agreed to take Mikkel under his tutelage. Royal guards were trained from a young age as they were given the duty of protecting the royal family, a very important job. Only the best were selected and trained. Aside from wanting to follow in his father's footsteps, Mikkel also sought this as an opportunity to get back into the castle. He had never forgotten about Anna and Elsa and he still felt his heart ache whenever he looked at the place which used to be his home. Mikkel caught the wooden sword with his own and shoved it away.

"That is enough for today boy." Aksel said. "We need some work on your blocking."

"But you're so fast!" Mikkel complained. "How can I block those hits?"

"You think the enemy will be any slower?" Aksel asked taking a sip of water and handing the canteen to Mikkel. "They will not stop till you are dead. Besides you are still young, when you grow older your reflexes and strength will naturally increase as well.

"Thank you." Mikkel said as he wiped blood from his nose where Aksel's sword had gotten him.

"We've got a long way to go before you are ready for Basic." Aksel said. Royal Guard Basic was were any selected guard candidates would go though a brutal twelve week program to see who was qualified. After which the guards would be selected and put on duty. Mikkel had no doubts he would succeed as he had warriors blood flowing through his veins.

"I'm hoping dad will help me out up there." Mikkel said looking up to the heavens.

"Your father would be so proud of you." Aksel said. "Hows your mom doin?"

"She's been goin out tryin to meet other guys." Mikkel said. "At first she didn't want to because she felt she was betraying dad if she did. Dad always told her if he died that he didn't want her to be alone for the rest of her life."

"An how do you feel bout it?" Aksel asked.

"I'm all for her meeting someone. Sure no man will ever replace dad but I mean I'm getting older and one day I won't be at home no more. I want to know someone is taking care of mom."

"You ever miss them?" Aksel asked.

"Who?" Mikkel asked.

"The princesses." Aksel said. "I hear you were very close friends with them."

"I was." Mikkel sighed. "I don't know what happened, one day we were playing then the next day the king shut the gates. I do miss Elsa and Anna though, I bet they're absolutely beautiful now."

"You'll see em again lad." Aksel said.

"I don't know if I want to." Mikkel said sadly. He still felt it was his fault Elsa locked herself away.

"And why is that?" Aksel asked.

"We had a little." Mikkel said looking for he right word. "Disagreement before I left and I ever got the chance to say sorry."

"I think after seven damned years she forgive you." Aksel said. "Ah well, her loss. You best be getting home before your mother hangs me by the neck."

"Alright see ya tommorow." Mikkel said laughing.

"Oh one more thing lad!" Aksel called. "If she asks about the bloody nose, tell her you bumped into a pole. I've seen your mothers wrath before and it ain't pretty."

"Haha you got it Aksel." Mikkel said as he walked away towards his home. The pension they had received allowed them to purchase a small cottage on the edge of town. Analise had taken up a job as a florist as she loved flowers. Although she was financially set, it never hurt to get a little extra money. Plus she loved putting together displays of flowers. Mikkel looked back at the castle. He wondered what Anna and Elsa were doing right now, he wondered if Elsa still used her powers. He had respected her wishes to not tell anyone about her powers. He wondered is Elsa still hated him. His heart ached at thinking of the memory and looked away from the castle. Mikkel approached his door and could already smell a delicious stew cooking as he made his way to the door. He walked in to see his mother humming a tune to herself as she used a long wooden spoon to stir a stew.

"Hey mom." Mikkel said walking in. Analise turned to see the heavy bruising and blood on his face.

"Oh baby!" Analise said walking up to him. "What happened to you? What is Aksel? I swear I'll tear off his testicles!"

"MOM!" Mikkel said horrified. "It wasn't him, I just bumped into a wall is all."

"Right, a 'wall'" Analise said rolling her eyes. "How dumb do you think I am?"

"Oh come on mom, its royal guard training! Its inevitable I'm gonna get roughed up a bit. Besides I am not a kid anymore, I can take care of myself." Mikkel said.

"You never stop being a mother." Analise said. "Come have some dinner."

"I'd be happy to oblige." Mikkel said taking a bowl and pouring some stew into hit. He sat down with his mother as two ate dinner together.

"Did you meet anyone?" Mikkel asked taking a drink of water.

"No, I don't feel the click I did with your father when I meet someone." Analise said. "He was one of a kind. Have you met any nice girls?"

"No and I don't want to." Mikkel said.

"Oh Mikkel you are such a handsome young man, I'm sure many young women would love to be with you." Analise said.

"The last woman I let into my life shut the door in my face and never spoke to me again." Mikkel said referring to Elsa.

"Oh honey I know its hard but you have to move on. It's been seven years!" Analise said. Leaving Elsa and Anna had left Mikkel severe emotional damage. Analise remembered hearing him cry at night calling for Elsa and Anna.

"No, I don't need any woman in my life." Mikkel said sternly. "Beside you mom."

"Oh honey no one wants to go through life alone." Analise said.

"Well maybe I'm the first one." Mikkel said as he finished his stew. "I'm gonna go wash up and head to bed. Do you need help with the dishes?"

"No I got it." Analise said as Mikkel walked upstairs to a bath room. He grabbed some sponges and towels and soaked them in warm water. He then rubbed them up and down his body removing blood, sweat, and dirt. He looked at himself in the mirror and swear he saw his father. It was uncanny how identical the two of them looked. Mikkel threw the dirty towels and sponges in a basket as he dunked his head underwater to wash his hair. He was glad he got it cut shorter as it was less of a hassle to clean. He threw on a nightgown and walked to his room. He sat there for who knows how long just staring at the ceiling. On his nightstand he had the ball Elsa gave to him several years ago. He cherished it more than anything. That's when he decided enough was enough, he had to see her again. Just to apologize. He silently got out of bed and changed into running clothes.