A/N" Well, hello again. Real life has been a serious pain in the neck. I know there are a few kind souls waiting patiently for the next chapter - which is incredibly humbling - and I am so happy to be writing again. Thank you to all the generous pixies who have 'Favourited' and are following. . . .and the reviewers? So, so kind. I hope this chapter goes some way to being worth the long wait. Big hug to everyone.

Chapter 11: In Which There Is But a Grain of Truth

"Alvar, perhaps it would be best to let the boy go. He can't answer you if he can't breathe." David was torn. He wanted to check on Killian but he also needed to prevent a possible war. He was more than sympathetic to his friend's state of mind, but he was also well aware of the political powder keg that would go up if Alvar truly harmed the prince. "Neither Liam nor Killian are in any state to tell us anything. Please, my friend."

"Please, Your Majesty, my brother only tried to help. I'm the one that threw the stick and started this," Kell said. He placed a hand on Alvar's forearm, intending to try and pry it off, but the King's arms were solid as oak and just as unyielding. Vir was beginning to see dark spots in his peripheral vision as he tried to force air into his lungs.

"Where is Elsa?" Alvar would not release Vir, but his tone was a little calmer. He glared at Kell, the inference that the youngest prince answer quickly or Vir may suffer, was not lost on the boys and David.

Vir tried to shake his head.

"We suggested that the guards take her home and asked them to bring help to get Killian out," Kell said, his voice shaking for all that he spoke barely above a whisper. "Her magic, we didn't know, it was . . she is . .it was out of control. Her magic . . . she's so powerful."

"She's not hurt? She's going home?" Alvar shook Vir slightly before loosening his hold. The boy pulled himself free, a hoarse coughing taking him as his airflow returned.

"Yes. She was completely unharmed, just frightened at what she did. Liam was out of his mind at losing his brother. Elsa didn't mean to hurt Killian, but with Liam so angry we thought it best for her not to be here. There wasn't anything we could do for Killian, so we just tried to keep Liam from going in after him. In the end we just had to knock him out. He wasn't saying very nice things about Elsa and we didn't want her to hear." Kell shook his head, his expression schooled into one of disapproval as he glanced over at Liam's prone form.

Alvar peered into Kell's eyes looking for any sign of a lie. He was not entirely convinced of the boy's sincerity but he would leave it until later to delve further in the veracity of the story. David was also suspicious. He obviously knew Liam's character much better than Alvar or the princes. The idea of polite, thoughtful Liam spouting cruel words at Elsa seemed far and away from the lad he knew; however, he was a young boy who believed his beloved little brother had perished as a result of Elsa's magic. Grief caused many a good soul to let insults fly and children could be cruelest of all.

Both David and Snow were unconsciously compartmentalising the knowledge that their closest friends had not been completely forthcoming in disclosing the full power of Elsa's magic. For now all that mattered was helping the boys and assuring that Elsa was safe. Neither Gerda nor Alvar would cope if anything happened to their adored daughter.

As David was talking Alvar down from harming Vir, Snow was occupied with Emma, Killian and Liam. Emma had stopped crying and was sniffling as she hugged Killian's head. Leo whimpered weakly, his tail twitching. Emma gave one of the puppy's ears a rub before leaning over to drop a kiss on his neck. Emma sat back up and peered intently at Killian's face.

"Mama? Is Killian having a nap? Can we wake him up now and go home?" Emma asked. She looked over to her mother, big hazel eyes unnaturally bright from so many tears. "It's very cold here."

"Yes, Sweetie, we'll get everyone home as soon as we can," Snow assured her as she shrugged out of the light jacket she was wearing and held it out to Emma. "You wrap Mama's jacket around you for now. It will help." Emma took the proffered jacket, careful not to let Killian's head drop from her lap.

"Thank you, Mama. Now, wake up Killian. I don't like that he's sleeping. It feels wrong," Emma said. She couldn't hold the jacket around her and resume hugging Killian, so she settled for stroking his forehead. She smiled down at her friend, oblivious to the sharp fear that had popped into Snow's eyes at her daughter's odd pronouncement.

"David!" Snow called sharply to get her husband's attention. "Check Killian, now!"

"What's going on? Killian? Killian!" Liam stirred, reacting to the urgency in Snow's call. He struggled against Snow's firm hold keeping him still, then groaned as his head swam.

"Shhh, Liam, just lie still. You were out cold. You must have been hit very hard," she said, frowning at Kell. " David is checking on Killian right this minute." Snow tried to keep her tone soothing but so much had happened in such a short time she couldn't keep her voice from trembling. "Vir, I know there was picnic blanket in with the supplies for your lunch. Please can you get it? We need to get Killian as warm as possible."

Vir nodded and ran off to retrieve the blanket, while Kell edged awkwardly away from Alvar and eventually busied himself untying Jib.

David crouched next to Killian and Emma and gave his daughter a quick hug and a kiss on the forehead. "You're doing such a good job of keeping Killian safe, Duckling. I'm so proud of all you've done this morning." As he spoke he carefully placed his palm against Killian's forehead, then the side of his face. The boy was very cold. His breathing was steady, but it was shallow. David leaned over and put his ear to Killian's chest to listen to his heart.

"Silly, Papa. Don't go to sleep, too," Emma said, and pulled lightly on David's hair. He reached up and took Emma's hand while he concentrated on listening to Killian's heart beating. It was steady at first but then he heard it stutter. It may have been his imagination but he thought it had slowed a little. He looked over at Snow, averting his face from Emma and, without uttering a word, his wife understood that Killian was in serious trouble.

Vir retuned and between himself and David, they removed Killian's wet shirt and wrapped him in the blanket.

"Duckling, I need to take Killian with me right now. I need to get him back to the palace and warmed up," David said, as he gently lifted Killian's limp form. "Alvar? Please can you help with Emma?"

Alvar let out a deep breath to calm himself, then sent Kell to retrieve the horses that were tied to the gazebo. He then walked over to scoop up Emma. "Now, little Duckling, you will ride with me and your Papa will take Killian. You know to hold on tight, yes?" He gave Kell a withering look as he lifted Emma as easily as if she were filled with feathers. He placed her gently in the saddle. He snatched the reins from the prince's hand and swung himself up behind Emma.

"Will we go fast, Uncle Alvar? I like to go fast, but Mama doesn't like to let me, even though I never, ever fall off," Emma said.

"We are most definitely going to go fast, Duckling. Now, are you ready?" Alvar asked as he caught David's eye.

"You'll have to ride slower with Liam," David said to Snow. "But at least you'll be on you way." He purposely said nothing about Killian. He didn't want to worry Emma and risk setting off another burst of her magic. Snow nodded .Sparing just a few moments, David leaned over with Killian so Liam could kiss his brother's forehead.

"I love you, little brother," Liam said, sleepily.

Snow swallowed hard against the lump in her throat as she brushed her fingers over his cheek and kissed the top of his head. She was deathly afraid for the little boy. David tried to smile encouragingly as he turned away and settled himself and Killian on the horse. He locked eyes with Snow once more and Emma waved to her mother, then in a flurry of hooves, they were off.

Vir and Kell stayed to help Snow get Liam onto a horse. Once they were all mounted, Jib and Leo each tucked into a saddlebag with their heads free, they moved off at a much more sedate pace so as not to jolt Liam about too much.

Liam's eyes started to close and Snow patted his cheek.

"Don't fall asleep, Liam. You need to stay awake right now. I've seen men die from being knocked out and falling asleep afterwards. Killian needs you, and Emma needs you and, David and I need you, too. Just stay with me and tell me a story. Perhaps a story about Killian as a very little boy. Surely you have lots of those," Snow said, trying to keep her tone light and cajole him into staying awake. "Was he mischievous? A boy with those dimples in his cheeks had to get into all sorts of trouble."

"Yes, he did, Always keeping me on my toes was Killian," Liam said, sounding a bit more alert. "But he's a good boy. Never tried to make a menace of himself, it just sort of ends up that way."

"Little brothers can be a trial, eh, Liam?" Vir said, trying to sound companionable.

"Emma's exactly the same. Good intentions, but trouble on legs. I wouldn't change anything about either one," Snow said. "Tell me about some of the trouble he's been in. We can tease him about it when he's well." That made Liam chuckle and he began to tell Snow the tale of Killian's bright idea to follow squirrels and steal their nuts. She pasted on a smile and tried not to think about how she could begin to get Emma and Liam to cope if Killian didn't survive.

'Monster! I'm a monster. Killian! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I was trying to save you, for Liam, for Emma. Oh, Emma. She'll hate me. They'll hate me,' Elsa could not stop her thoughts spiralling down a dark path of self loathing. She believed she had killed Killian and Leo. Entombed them both in an unyielding ice coffin. The look of shocked and desperate horror on Liam's face as he watched her ice magic take his beloved brother was fixed in her mind's eye and she could not turn away from it.

She didn't understand how things had deteriorated so quickly. She'd been having such a lovely time, marred only by the presence of the Southern princes, although they had been a lot less irritating. Or perhaps it was because Liam was with her that she was more able to tolerate Vir and Kell. The picnic had been wonderful, the weather was perfect, she hadn't said a single thing that she felt made Liam think she was a silly baby. It had all been going so well.

Until it wasn't.

Until she'd killed Killian in the foolish belief that she had any semblance of control over her magic. She stopped in her tracks and buried her face in her hands. What did it matter that she was trying to help? She had failed in the most tragic way and, now that the initial adrenaline rush was receding, she realised she had exposed her magic to the foreign princes and to Liam. So, she had failed her parents, as well.

Unaware that both Killian and Leo were alive, she had fled the scene by the river, determined to hide herself away. She was trying to run away, but the guards had been hot on her heels. She'd let them think she was going with them to the palace; however, as soon as they were over the hill that formed part of the river bank, she managed a controlled burst of magic and left them behind with their legs trapped.

Elsa had not given any thought at all as to where she would go. She just ran, putting as much distance between herself and what she'd done, as she could.

But she didn't have much of a head start.

Gerda had not been idle after she had been left alone in the hallway. She'd guessed the first place she should look for her husband and friends was the viewing gazebo. Aware that little Emma was still wearing the pinned gown and, that Snow was also not dressed warmly, Gerda had collected some warmer clothes and rallied several guards to come with her to find her daughter and her friends. As she pushed her horse into a gallop, she tried not to let her thoughts get too dark, but from Emma's reaction it was clear that Elsa's magic had affected Killian in some fashion. Her heart pounded. She was terrified for her daughter's state of mind and for young Killian.

They took the most direct route and, as they cleared the woods on to a flat plain, Gerda could see ahead the small hill that formed part of the river bank. On the other side of the hill they would find the gazebo, but Gerda's eyes were drawn to two figures who were waving their arms, obviously trying to attract the attention of her group. When Gerda reached them, she recognised the two guards that Alvar had sent with the children. Their feet and lower legs were encased in ice and an ice trail led away towards the woods. Like those with her, these two men were part of the Royal House Guard. They were of the few who were aware of Elsa's magic and were trusted to protect that secret.

"We'll be alright, Your Majesty. We just need help to cut ourselves free," The senior of the two assured her.

"What happened?" Gerda asked, as some of the guards with her dismounted and began to chip at the rock hard ice to free their colleagues.

"Young Killan went in the river to save the dog. He was so fast we couldn't get to him to stop him. The thresh attacked and Her Highness tried to save him. It seemed to me that she was so frightened for him that she lost control and suddenly there was ice everywhere. It completely encased the boy. I think he died. Her Highness was so upset that she was too scared to even try to undo it. She ran and we tried to go after her, as you and His Majesty would expect, but she said to stay back. Next thing we knew we were stuck fast and Her Highness ran into the woods over there. You can follow the trail."

Gerda's eyes were blurry, her heart breaking for her daughter and for Killian and for her friend's family. Guilt clawed at her brain, threatening to paralyse her into inaction, but she couldn't afford to give into it. Not yet.

The trapped guard gently placed a hand on Gerda's arm to get her attention. The battle hardened man had tears in his eyes. "Your Majesty? Her highness kept saying over and over that she was a monster. From what I could see she's completely distraught and that's why she can't control her magic. When you find her, please be careful."

Gerda squeezed the man's hand to acknowledge his concern. She turned to the Captain of the Guard.

"Go to the others and try to help. Tell the King that I have gone to find our daughter. Tell him I will bring her home," she said, as she remounted her horse and took off, following Elsa's ice trail.