Elsa lasted far longer than she would have expected.

A respectable feat for someone who has never been keen to mingle with throngs of nobles during a ball and whose experience with stealth include sneaking around the castle halls from nosy servants with her sister.

She had followed them closely behind, mindful to keep her distance from the guards to avoid alluding herself of suspicion. The numerous market stalls provide great cover for her to hide from the guards' roaming glances. Occasionally she would pause by a stall to inspect its commodities, her peripheral vision barely keeping him out of her sight.

The Duke was enjoying himself, she observed. Head held high as he walked within his retinue of guards, trudging through the streets and people. Many bowed their heads to him, whether from fear or obligation, she did not know. He enjoyed it nonetheless. His glasses gleamed in the sunlight as he took in the ones who did and puffed chest forward, as if thinking it would make his ego much larger than it already is.

They stopped by a clothing vendor, with him and his companion entering the building followed by his bodyguards. This is my chance, she thought, watching his other guardsmen as they stood guard outside the door, looking bored. Probably confident that there were no would-be attackers foolish enough to get to their liege in broad daylight. With their vigilance lowered Elsa moved slightly closer to them, standing in front of the building next to theirs and casually examining the objects that were on display behind the glass wall.

A few moments later the Duke came out with a smug look on his face, apparently satisfied with proceedings that happened inside. They continued on with Elsa following behind their trail.

She could see that they were talking again, not bothering to quiet himself down while they strolled in the public. She could make out faint words, the loud voices were still overshadowed by the mutterings of the increasing crowd. Elsa wanted to get closer but that would mean she had to risk being close to his bodyguard and might possibly expose her identity as well.

Steeling herself, she crept closer, head pointed downwards as she kept pace with the left side of the group.

"Tell me again. How did you come by with this information?"

"A contact of mine in the west informed me that there are lands that he sailed passed by near Arendelle that are yet to be inhabited. Far enough to be unrecognized but still close to gather intel on the fjord kingdom if needed."

"Hmm," the balding man mused, twirling his mustache. "If that is true then I must see these lands myself. I will not waste resources for this expedition if your man's tales are folly. See to it that you confirm these sightings."

"Of course, Your Grace." He paused for a moment. "If I may be so bold as to ask, why is it that you do not wish to simply apologize to the Snow Queen instead of continuing this pursuit?"

"Gah! Beg pardon to a monarch. I will do no such thing! It is degrading enough that I have to do it, especially to a single queen and her naive sister," he sneered. "There is also the matter that I do not trust her and her powers. Such abilities are an abomination! I'm surprised that there have been no riots yet chanting to overthrow her."

"Perhaps you may have misjudged her? Reports say that she is rather calm and demure with an unmatched beauty. Lords and princes from other kingdoms have been begging for her hand," his companion wondered aloud.

"I know what I saw, my lord. Her powers are unnatural. If she was able to freeze her entire kingdom in half a day, then what more if she suddenly decides to take arms and wage war on us? Precautions must me made. She must be biding her time, forming allies."

"And marriage," he scoffed, as if amused by the prospect. "Prince Hans attempted to woo the princess instead of her. Everyone knows that it's the throne that her suitors are after, not the queen herself. Well, not entirely. Once they are of union, he will slowly gain influence within their government and assume power. No one would ever marry her for love. And if she's not in the same line of thought as that then she is more foolish than her sister."

His words stung deeply, despite knowing that it was probably true. Elsa already resigned herself to the fact that she has to wed someone who may or may not like her to ensure a fruitful future for Arendelle, but hearing it being discussed by someone else with such contempt took a blow on her diffidence. There has to be someone among her suitors that would actually like her, right?

She tried to shake these uneasy thoughts as she trudged closer, hoping to grasp any more relevant information.

Suddenly, a gloved hand gripped her arm. She gasped, gaze instinctively looking up to the bearded bodyguard, whose eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Just what do you think you're doing?"

She couldn't answer, fearful that her voice might give the disguise away. Instead she lowered her face, not able to look at him in the eye.

Realizing that the woman wasn't going to answer, he called for the Duke. "Your Grace! This woman was found snooping near our formation."

Elsa took a chance and tilted her head up slightly. She was met with the blue eyes of the Duke, who was looking at her in a mixture of annoyance and suspicion. Again she averted her eyes, hoping against hope that he didn't recognize her.

"I've been observing her for the past few minutes. From the looks of it she seems to be following us," the bodyguard told him.

The Duke listened to his man's words then squinted back to the woman. "Well?" he demanded curtly, "Is it true? Look up to your superiors properly if you wish to explain about your actions."

Reluctantly, she did as she was told. Her eyes met the twin pair of stares coming from the Duke and his bodyguard, both looking at her as if she were an irritating insect. She saw a mismatch of emotions plastered on their faces, suspicion and annoyance being the most noticeable. However, she was relieved to see that there was no spark of recognition in either of their eyes. Nonetheless, she kept her lips in a tight line and did not reply.

"Perhaps she's a mute?" one of the guards offered when she did not reply.

"Naw, can't be. I heard her made a sound when Marshal there grabbed her. Must be a shy one since she won't look at us." the man beside him replied.

"Still," he argued, "it's possible that she's a mute. Maybe she can't speak but that doesn't mean—"

"Quiet, both of you." Marshal barked, and they promptly kept their mouth shut.

After a passing silence the Duke gave a bout of impatience. "Enough of this. We are wasting time here questioning an unresponsive girl. Perhaps she's too stupid to even understand what I'm saying. Come, I have a schedule to finish. Release her, Marshal."

She bristled at being called stupid but remained tight-lipped. If that had been intentional in an attempt to rile her up into talking, then the Duke did not show his displeasure.

His bodyguard frowned. "But Your Grace," he started.

"Release her. Now. She is nothing more than a commoner minding something that clearly isn't her business. She is of no use to us. And if she were a spy then I uphold you in your oath to do your best duty in protecting me. Do I make myself clear?"

He hesitated for a moment then conceded with a bow. "As you say, Your Grace."

He started to release his grip on her when the silk-robed man suddenly spoke, "Can you wait just a moment, sir?"

All eyes immediately turned towards him as he approached Elsa and Marshal. He had been quiet throughout this whole ordeal so it was surprising that he suddenly joined in the conversation. The bodyguard gave the Duke a puzzled look, simultaneously asking for permission. He allowed it with a wave of his hand, though his expression possessed the same look of confusion as he watched his companion.

The way the man looked at her made Elsa's skin crawl. She was used to being stared at. Her platinum blonde hair and porcelain complexion uncommon to most men and women, and her position as queen normally compels her to be the center of attention. But the glint in his dark eyes as he scrutinized her from head to toe made her feel like she was being deconstructed piece by piece. It wasn't even a look of ardor that she'd notice some men gave her when they thought she wasn't looking. It was like how a watchmaker would analyze every wheel and screw by disassembling all its parts and stripping it bare, leaving no secret to be hidden.

This was it. She was certain that the Duke won't recognize her, but with this man's calculating gaze it'll take only minutes before he connects the dots and realize who he has in front of him. She has to flee now.

Her free arm shook slightly in anticipation as she clenched her fists. If she has to go then she'll relish the satisfaction of giving the bodyguard a piece of her mind before making her escape. Wisps of frost slowly swirled on her palms, coating her knuckles in a thin but dense layer of ice.

She was raising her hand to throw in a well-rounded punch when a pair of hand grabbed her raised arm.

"There you are!"

Her vision was momentarily blurred by a mop of brown hair, blocking her view from the prying eyes of the silk man.

"Please forgive my wife, milords," the man apologized nervously, head bowed down as a show of respect. "We're travelers here and it's her first time seeing a beautiful city such as yours. I'm really sorry for any trouble she's caused. She can get too curious at times."

Stunned, Elsa stood wide-eyed and was unable to form words; the frost in her hands slowly dissipating. The dark-eyed man gave a small frown at being interrupted, but before he could speak the Duke replied with a harrumph, "Well, if that's the case then you should keep a better eye on your lady, young man. Keep her on a leash if needed. Women and their unattainable need for gossip," he muttered under his breath. "Tell her to mind her own business next time or else there will be consequences. After all, it was simple curiosity that killed the cat."

She gritted her teeth at the implied insult, resisting the urge to freeze him on the spot. As if sensing her vexation, the man gave her arm a comforting squeeze, coaxing her to calm down. She got the message and visibly relaxed, taking deep breaths through her nose and scowling at the ground instead.

"Of course, my lord. And... thank you for letting us go."

"The proper term is 'Your Grace'," the Duke corrected. "Carry on then. What are you all looking at? Return to your stations and be vigilant this time! I don't want anymore people snooping near us." he ordered to his guards, who hurriedly spurred into action. "Come, Lord Varen, let us continue this talk in a more private setting."

The man looked dissatisfied but quickly masked it with a polite smile, his lips curving upwards under the well-trimmed beard. "Of, course," he said. "A good day to you, sir and madam." He nodded to them then followed the Duke.

Elsa kept her eyes on them until they were well out of her sight, her anger dissipating into somewhat of worry. What are they planning? Uninhabited islands near Arendelle? She'll have to consult her general about this and have a look at a map of the kingdom's surrounding area. Her confrontation with the Duke was too much of a close call, nearly exposing herself to him and risking the safety of her companion. She made a mental note to stay away from the castle and avoid having meetings with the guards and nobility of this city.

The Duke's companion was a person of interest. He was no ordinary lordling if his clothing says otherwise. At first he appeared to be one of those advisers who agrees to everything his ruler says, whose goal was to appease his wants and ignore the needs while they plot behind his back. But their brief eye contact told her enough to claim that her speculation was false. He was also the closest to deduce her identity which makes him even more dangerous. She needs to keep an eye out on him as well.

"Hey, are you alright?" a nasally toned voice shook her out of her thoughts.

She looks up to the concerned frown of the man who helped her. Her mind suddenly clicks in as she finally realized who this man was. She noticed that he was still holding her arm, his rough but, surprisingly, gentle fingers wrapped around her forearm. He notices this as well and lets go, leaving her strangely disappointed.

"Yes-Yeah, I'm fine. Thank you for asking... sir," she finished lamely, unsure how to address him, still feeling slightly unnerved by the whole thing.

He gives her a sheepish smile, rubbing a hand up the back of his neck. "It's no problem, really. And my name's Hiccup."

000

They sat at a table near the back of the inn as they ordered their drinks.

Elsa managed to convince him to let her buy him a meal, despite his repeated protests that she didn't need to thank him in such a way. But Elsa was nothing if not insistent, or stubborn. After much pestering he finally relented and compromised that a drink would suffice.

She was stirring her cup of hot chocolate as she watched him take an experimental sip of his coffee, mindful of its still warm contents.

"So... your name is Hiccup?" she asked, wanting to make sure she didn't misinterpret his words.

He winced, whether or not from the question or the taste of the drink she wasn't sure. "Yeah, that's right," he affirmed, lowering his mug. "I know, not the greatest of names but it's sort of tradition from where I come from."

He paused, as if waiting for a reaction. Was he expecting her to laugh or comment at his name?

"It's an... interesting name, that's for sure." Elsa said, raising a brow, smiling.

Hiccup shrugged his shoulders, "Trust me, I've heard worse. Though it's refreshing to meet someone who's not laughing whenever I introduce myself."

"I think it's unique," Elsa argued. "I'm Edina, by the way."

"Nice to meet you, Edina."

"Likewise, Hiccup."

There was an awkward silence, with neither knowing how to continue the conversation.

Elsa decided to break the ice, "Listen, I'd like to extend my thanks for helping me out in that situation with the Duke. If you hadn't interfered I'm not sure what could've happened." She's lying, of course. She knew exactly what could have happened if the brunette hadn't been there to ease things down.

Hiccup merely shrugged in response. "Like I said, it's no problem. You looked like you needed help and I thought I'd lend a hand before things got ugly. And besides," he said, giving her a crooked smile. "Just think of it as my way of thanks for taking care of Nora the other day. Now we're even."

She smiled at that, unable to argue with the logic.

As he took another sip of his coffee, Elsa leaned a bit to study him more closely. He wore a simple red tunic under a leather vest. His hair was an untamed mane of brown, reaching slightly past his neck. A far cry from the slick, perfectly styled hair she was prone to seeing on sophisticated lords and princes, though a refreshing sight for her. Over the nape of his right shoulder were small braids which she found unusual for a man. Her sister had tried many times to convince Kristoff to let her braid his hair, but he always refused, claiming that it looked 'girlish' on him. She wondered if a woman did that for him.

He has a light dust of freckles on his cheeks and a slightly large nose. His jaw was covered in a reddish-brown stubble that hid most of his lower face from scrutiny. Under his thick eyebrows were emerald orbs that reflected back a vivid memory of pine trees. There was a small scar running from his right eye to just above his red cheek.

Wait, red cheeks?

She quickly glanced up and saw that he was looking anywhere but her, his face flushed in a thin shade of red. Elsa cursed herself for her lack of tact. Here she was, supposedly treating someone who helped her out for a drink and now she was openly caught staring at him. How polite of you, Elsa, she reproached herself sarcastically.

The uncomfortable silence lapsed on, with neither one able to look at each other in the eye without flushing. Elsa decided that she should at least take the initiative to break the tension between them, seeing as she started this in the first place, but how? Anna was usually good at this without even trying, dropping awkward yet jocular lines at random intervals to make a situation seem lighter. And Elsa has never been one spurt out witty jokes, if she even knows any.

Suddenly, she came up with an idea. It could potentially end up making things worse but she had to try, as the silence was becoming slightly unbearable.

"So, Hiccup," she started, earning a sideways glance from him. "You fancied me as your wife, did you?"

For a moment he didn't respond, she could see the gears turning in his head as he processed her words. Then his eyes widened.

"W-Wait, what?" he gaped at her, dumbfounded, and Elsa had to stifle her laugh. "I-I mean, yeah, I did, but what about it?"

She tilted her head, "It just seems a bit strange that of all the things that you could have used to cover for me, you chose the spouse angle."

"Er, well, yeah, but I didn't think you'd mind that. A-And to be fair it was the only excuse I could come up with at the time!" He defended himself.

"Hmm, I suppose that's true," she mused, tapping her chin with her forefinger. Then she leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand and blinking innocently at him. "Or perhaps there is another reason."

Hiccup gulped, shifting in his seat. "Another reason?" he echoed nervously.

It took all her queenly training to maintain that composure on her face. "Tell me Hiccup, do you find me attractive?" she asked lightly, hoping that he wouldn't take this the wrong way.

He stared at her, mouth moving, trying to say something, but unable to form the words like a beached fish.

"Tha-That's not—" he sputtered out. "I mean—No! That's not it!"

"So you don't think I'm attractive?" she said, feigning hurt.

"What? No! you're not—I didn't mean—you are!" Hiccup protested, feeling overwhelmed. "You're gorgeous! It's just that—oh gods."

Elsa couldn't take it anymore. His reaction was just too priceless. She bursted out laughing, peals of laughter escaping her lips and landing right on his astonished face.

Hiccup immediately realized what had just transpired.

"Oh my gods," he groaned, covering his face with his hands. "I can't believe I fell for that!"

Elsa tried to contain her giggles, "I-I'm sorry, it's just that... your face!" she breathed out before putting a hand over her mouth, ignoring the stares being directed towards them.

"Yeah, note to self: Ignore the next person who looks in need of help or suffer the consequences of being embarrassed like Hel." Hiccup muttered dryly.

But despite his grumbled mortification, the twitch of his lips told her that he could see the humor of it all.

After regaining herself, Elsa finally apologized properly. "Sorry about that. It was impolite of me to stare and I've completely ruined our drinking session. I thought a bit of humor was needed." she explained sheepishly.

Hiccup shook his head slowly. "If that's just a glimpse of your funny side then I can only imagine what'd it be like if you go all out," he joked, reaching for the pot to refill his mug. "You're right about one thing though," she raised an eyebrow at that, "I am never going drinking with you, never again."

They both shared a good-natured laugh at that, conversation easing back in to lighthearted regions.

"So, what's with you and the old man back there? He looked a bit prickly," Hiccup commented.

Elsa pursed her lips as she drank from her cup, thinking of a reply. "We've... met on an occasion before," she answered. Spotting his look of interest, she elaborated further, "It was at a ball, he requested for a dance but I... sort of rejected him. He doesn't seem to remember me though." She quickly added.

"Hmm, somehow I find that hard to believe," he looked contemplative, taking a sip of the bitter drink. "You're not an easy person to forget, Edina."

Elsa felt herself blush uncharacteristically at his compliment. "T-Thanks," she let out softly.

Hiccup hummed in response, still in deep thought and seemingly oblivious to the effect his words had on her.

Suddenly, his face lit up. "Hey, d'you think I can convince the innkeeper to trade me a few handfuls of this?" he gestured to the coffee pot on the table. "The taste is really getting to me!" He exclaimed eagerly.

Elsa chuckled inwardly, shaking her head as she answered his question and followed up with inquiries of her own. All the while wondering why she's able to converse so easily with this man.

A/N: Hiccup and Elsa's second unofficial meeting. What could the Duke be planning and who is his companion? What do you guys think?

I'm actually surprised that most Frozen/crossover fics don't use the Evil!Elsa character that much. She has a lot of story potential and could prove to be quite the adversary for Elsa.

Sadly, this is going to be the last chapter I'll be posting in a while. With college coming up in a week I'm not gonna be able to write as often as I did during the summer. Studying is going to be a pain. I'll try my best to upload chapters as frequent as I can. I'm also afraid that I made them OOC in this chapter. Humor isn't my strongest suit.

Thank you guys for reading this story, I didn't really think that many would like it. Again I like to point out that reviews and constructive criticism are much appreciated. It kinda helps with my self-esteem in writing since I'm a novice at it and I'm curious to hear your opinions on this. I don't mind any suggestions as well on where to move the story forward and am open to ideas even though I already have one roughly planned.

Until then, see you guys in the next chapter!