Hiram had to be carried most of the way. His strength, though returning, barely allowed him to keep his head up. Faint sounds started coming to him. First, it was the tense breath of one of the guards behind him. Then he caught the sound of an insect flying into a window. He could feel his powers stirring.

Happiness flooded him even though he was being led to an unknown fate. But his concern for his welfare was dwarfed by his concern for the children. Hiram wanted very much to see them again, to make sure they were all right. He remembered when he first met Shako, and then Nadine almost a year later - the fear and confusion on their faces reminded him of when he was rescued by his adoptive parents.

Hiram's thoughts turned to the others. He hoped they were safe and had remained undiscovered. A familiar weight settled on his shoulders, the responsibility of ensuring the safety of his people. When he regained his freedom he would find them again.

His hands twitched. He despised it when they were bound. It was just another reminder that while he was here, his life was not his own to live. But he was able to change it. Or, he would soon be able to change it. Just as soon as his powers recovered enough to his liking, because at this point he could only hear but not manipulate sound.

He was led through two more hallways and brought before two large, ornate doors. The men escorting him stopped and Captain Jokkon knocked. A heavyset man opened them and, upon seeing Hiram, nodded to the captain and allowed them to enter.

As they stepped through, Hiram glimpsed a painting of two people with a veil over it. He was familiar enough with royal traditions to know that this was done for rulers who had passed. Even though he couldn't see their faces very well, they seemed familiar. Unfortunately, he was pushed on before he could get a better look at it. When he passed the captain, the men holding him stopped and he felt someone lean close.

"It would go better for you if you bowed to the queen when you are announced," the captain whispered. Hiram looked at him, but said nothing. The captain shook his head and motioned for them to continue.

The guards approached the queen. She was taller than average. Blonde, almost-white hair in a fancy braid draped over her left shoulder. Hiram couldn't deny that she was beautiful. However, he knew too many people who looked fair and yet were as foul as the garbage their servants disposed of, so he held his judgment.

Her dress was another matter. It was beyond elegant. The way it was designed made it look natural, like it was shaped by nature and not by man. Perhaps it was. Hiram's eyes widened when he heard the sound of ice gently rubbing together whenever she moved. When he probed further, he heard tiny wind currents flowing around her hands. From the way they moved, he guessed that they were influenced by the cold.

This person was an ice wielder, a master of the winter elements! Hiram found himself wondering how the other nations tolerated a ruler of such power. He realized his escape would not be as simple as he originally thought. Then he noticed two other people seated next to her. One was a troll, old and bent. The other was a young woman with copper-colored hair. She was not as imposing as the queen but had an air of royalty nonetheless.

The guards halted before the throne and released their hold on Hiram. Thankfully, he was just strong enough to stand on his own.

When he spoke, the lead guard's voice resonated throughout the room. "Your Majesty," he said, gesturing to Hiram. "The man recovered in the mountains has been brought before you as commanded."

The guards bowed as one but Hiram chose to remain standing. Instead, he nodded to the queen as one would to an equal. He looked the queen in the eyes, sending a silent message that he would not be intimidated. The queen, to her credit, seemed to accept his challenge and so said nothing.

After regarding him for a moment she began questioning him. "What is your name, stranger?"

"My name," Hiram said, "is Hiram."

"Do you not have a surname?"

"I'm sorry, but I don't know your name."

The queen did not answer. Instead the portly servant stepped forward, his face showing annoyance. "You stand before Queen Elsa of Arendelle, stranger, mistress of ice and snow and protector of the realm."

Hiram glanced at the servant and then back at the queen. "Then, Queen Elsa of Arendelle," he said, "I do not have a surname."

"Was it stripped from you for a crime?" Queen Elsa asked.

"No."

"Explain."

"I was never given one." He saw a flash of pity pass over the princess' features before she quickly composed herself. He understood why. People's surnames were almost as important in this world as their reputations. Those without one were often considered outcasts or lawbreakers. But to have never been given one was seldom heard of.

"Is that why you wanted the ice vault? To make a name for yourself?"

Hiram sighed. These people assumed the worst about him. That was typical for royalty, quick to condemn what they didn't understand or couldn't control.

"No."

The queen held out a hand and the servant brought a bundle of cloth. The queen took it and unwrapped the folds, revealing Hiram's pendant. She held it up for him to see.

"How did you come to acquire this?" she demanded, her anger evident.

Hiram said nothing. Rage coursed through him, threatening to burst forth uncontrollably. With great effort, he quelled it. He took a deep breath. However, he did not hide the anger in his eyes when he looked at the queen again.

"It belongs to me," he said, his voice hard. No one appeared to notice that it seemed to reach every corner of the room. Hiram felt satisfaction that his powers were growing stronger.

"It does not belong to you, stranger. It is the property of Arendelle." The temperature in the room seemed to drop slightly. The queen's voice likewise seemed to cool. "Again I ask, how did it come into your possession?"

"Give me back my necklace!" Hiram almost shouted taking a shaky step forward, his powers increasing the strength of his voice. He felt hands grip his arms tightly. Some of the guards were shocked and the queen's sister looked nervous. The troll however, appeared thoughtful. Hiram wouldn't be surprised if he already guessed what his abilities were.

Now the servant was livid. "You dare speak to the queen that way?"

Hiram shot him a glare. "Now it's my turn to ask a question." The guards stepped closer, their gazes vigilant. He turned to the queen. "Where are the children?"

"We will discuss them when I decide," Queen Elsa said, her gaze hardening.

"Sorry to disappoint. There will be no discussion until you tell me what you did to them."

His powers absorbed the sudden blow to his head, but it was still enough to force him to his knees.

"You are in no position to make demands," the captain growled after delivering the hit.

"Is that so?" Hiram challenged. He focused his thoughts on the pendant, his powers finally beginning to show some form of strength. He thrust his hands forward and a faint blue, almost white aura appeared around the necklace. The queen only had a split second to stare at it in astonishment before it shot from her hands and into his own.

The silence was almost deafening. "Even though they can be weakened, Queen Elsa, our kind's abilities are always present." He placed it back on his neck.

The guards broke out of their shock and descended on him. Several roughly held him down while another two ripped the pendant from his neck. Through the mess of limbs and heads, Hiram barely made out the captain give the pendant back to the queen who just stared in Hiram's direction as if he'd turned her world upside down.

The guards, satisfied that they had roughed him into submission, stood back and allowed him to stand once again. However, four now held his arms. He saw the troll slowly walking towards him.

"Grand Pabbie?" the young woman next to the queen asked timidly.

"I am going to look into his memories," the troll said with a glance at the queen, who nodded.

All at once, Hiram's anger dissipated like a small cloud of water vapor. Images flashed before his eyes of scenes he hoped he would never see again. Panic began to well up in him as the troll got closer.

"Don't do this," he almost begged. "Please."

"It won't hurt you," the troll said. "You have not been forthcoming with your history, so this is the next best option."

The soldiers forced Hiram to a kneeling position so that he was almost eye level with the troll. Even though they were not touching, he could feel the troll begin to probe his mind. He couldn't have someone else violate his thoughts, not again. When the rough hand made contact with his forehead, a spark seemed to go off in his mind. His powers surged and built up in an intensity that astounded him. Almost on their own volition, they burst out in an explosive blast.

The guards, the troll, and everyone else in the room were thrown back. Hiram found himself free of his restraints. He smiled to himself - he could hear everything now. One of the first things he detected was the gathering of guards outside the throne room doors. Any second they would charge in.

Spotting a spear, Hiram grabbed it and broke off a section of the wood about the length of a longsword. He discarded the tip and faced the doors as the guards burst through. He raised a hand and a shockwave flew out, sending them all to the ground.

His senses prickled. He ducked just in time to avoid being struck by an ice blast. He turned to see the queen had recovered first and was about to shoot another beam of ice. He sent a quick pulse in her direction to buy himself some time and escaped through the door. The pendant was left behind. There would be time to retrieve it later when he came back for the children.