This was going to be the last chapter but it got a little long so it's the penultimate chapter instead. Enjoy!

Hetalia belongs to Hidekaz Himaruya!

The Riddle

The days after Arthur's saving of Spades were frenetic as the rumours flew about Arthur and Alfred, why the strange winter had suddenly appeared and how Arthur had sacrificed himself to undo it all. Farmers had tended their fields to see how much of their crops could be salvaged and, fortunately it was not as bad as they expected as, while some crops had been lost to the snow, much of it would recover and, with promised help from the other kingdoms, including Clubs as Elizaveta and Roderich wished to make amends for Ivan and Natalya's misdeeds, Spades would not suffer too much hardship in the coming winter.

The royal family of Spades retook residence in the palace and the servants all worked hard to restore it to its former glory and the other royal guests returned to their rooms as they became fit for habitation and Yao worked like mad to bring things back into order. He properly thanked the royals of Hearts and Diamonds for their assistance during the recent crisis and for their offers of help with the coming winter. Clubs was a little more difficult because, while Ivan and Natalya had plotted against the other kingdoms, Queen Elizaveta and Jack Roderich had been as much victims as the rest of them and Yao did not want bad feeling between the kingdoms.

Despite his fear that he had somehow ruined his chances of a trade alliance with Spades, as it was he who unknowingly caused the revealing of Queen Arthur's power, Yao had given King Sadik official reassurance that, once things had settled, he would be happy to discuss a trade treaty with the Solitaire Isles King. Sadik was happy with that promise, accepting that as, right now, Spades had a lot to deal with and offered any assistance he could to help in their current trials and tribulations.

Official royal duties of the Royals of Cards had to be addressed, despite the current circumstances and one issue that loomed over everything was the thorny problem of King Ivan and Ace Natalya.

The issue was what to do with Ivan and Natalya and, like it or not, they were the King and Ace of Clubs and their future royals had not yet been found, though it would make little difference if they had, they would only be children. It was rare that any ruling royal was found unfit and dethrone as those chosen were usually picked because they were fit to rule but occasions happened, madness being the usual cause.

"I can only surmise," Roderich said, sipping tea as he, Elizaveta and Yao sat to discuss the situation. "That Ivan and Natalya were brainwashed by their own father into believing that they had a right to rule everything. While, usually the royal training begins when the new royals are found, King Dmitri had from birth to indoctrinate them into his way of thinking. We can't have a king who believes he has a right to rule everything, we would be constantly at war because someone like that wouldn't stop at Cards. The other kingdoms would be at risk too."

"Very true," Ludwig agreed. "Punishment for what they attempted here in Spades is what they deserve but that would put strain between the kingdoms so perhaps locking them away for insanity is the best solution.

"It's certainly the most viable, aru," Yao replied. No one wanted a war and the other royals nodded in agreement with one exception. Alfred just stood by the window with a nondescript look on his on his face while Queen Lili sent comforting looks toward the young Spadian king. Of all the royals, she had been the most supportive, having known Arthur before everything had happened. Queen Kiku had offered his own support too, in the way of advice but, it was fair to say, Alfred just wasn't the same any more.

His brilliant smile was absent and, when he did smile, everyone could see that it was forced, not the spontaneous one that lit up his eyes. His eyes just stayed dull and flat and, when his input was not required, would be found staring out of the nearest window, like he was now. He still did his kingly duties when those duties called but they were only for the sake of the people and he was just going through the motions. It was as if the cheerful, approachable King Alfred had died with Queen Arthur.

Everyone avoided mentioning that Arthur was dead as it was enough to send Alfred into a rage, even suggesting that Matthew take on the position of Queen, as was the role of the Ace, made Alfred angry. Not that he would deny his brother the position in the usual circumstances but Alfred flatly refused to believe that Arthur was dead. The only allies that Alfred had in that belief were the Kirklands, Allistor being his strongest while Patrick had gone to the Kirkland farm to tell the rest of the family what had happened and came back a few days later with the rest of the family. Alice wept and pounded the ice with her fists and had to consoled by her husband. She could not believe this had happened, she had only just gotten her son back and now he was beyond her reach again, once more cut off by Arthur's powers. Robert held his wife and looked at Arthur through the ice, still but still stood up, held up by the ice, looking like he might opened his eyes at any moment. Rhys was distraught, angry that he had not been here to stop Arthur and angry at Allistor and Patrick for not stopping him but Allistor did not rise to his accusation as he knew it was the grief talking but Patrick took it personally and left to be alone. Yao arranged for rooms to house the Kirkland family while they were here and told them they could stay as long as they needed to.

In the days after Arthur had encased himself in ice to save Spades, many attempts were made to breach the ice to reach him. The ice was hacked at with axes but every gash made healed itself and refroze and no amount of fire braziers would make the ice melt. Many believe that no one could survive being encased in ice for so long and surely, the Queen was now dead but Alfred would not have it. Arthur created the ice, it came from his own power so it stood to reason that Arthur would have some resistance to the numbing cold and besides, if Arthur was dead, would the ice not melt but it was still as solid as ever.

All of Alfred's free time was spent with him standing outside the throne room in front of the ice, staring at Arthur deep in the room, his image distorted by the ice between Arthur and Alfred. Arthur looked alive, it just looked like he was asleep but Alfred could not get to him, no matter what he did but he still refused to give up on Arthur.

"Your Majesty?" Alfred continued to stare out of the window where he could see the maze and the spot just outside where they shared their first kiss. Alfred could almost feel the same softness of Arthur's lips that he felt that night and wanted to feel it again and again...

"Your Majesty?" There had to be a way to free him from the ice and Alfred would not rest until he found it because, no matter what the others thought, Arthur was not dead!

"ALFRED!" Alfred turned at the sound of his brother's voice to find all the royals looking at him and realised that they had been trying to get his attention for some time.

"Sorry," he apologised. "You were saying?"

"I asked if the plan is agreeable," Roderich replied. "Ivan and Natalya will be removed from their positions and incarcerated for reasons of insanity?" Alfred nodded, vaguely.

"As long as they don't get away with what they tried to do," Alfred replied, turning back to the window. Alfred could not summon any interest in the fate of the traitorous Clubs royals which worried Matthew and Yao. While Alfred's apathetic attitude made it easier to sort things between Spades and Clubs, it was not normal. They were expecting to have to talk Alfred out of calling for Ivan's blood but he was expressionless as he turned back toward the window.

"Well, I suppose that's that settled, aru," Yao said. "But now we must address the next issue. We need someone to stand in the position of Queen..." Alfred turned from the window.

"Why?" he interrupted. "We have a queen." Everyone looked uncomfortable and Matthew cleared his throat.

"Alfred," he said, carefully. "Arthur is …..."

"Still alive!" Alfred completed. "If he wasn't, we wouldn't have to use the ballroom as the throne room and we'd be having a funeral. To say nothing of Flying Snow Bunny becoming a puddle! Arthur's still alive and, while he is, he's Queen and that's that!" Then Alfred stormed out of the room, leaving behind an awkward silence.

"King Alfred is still not accepting you as Queen, Ace Matthew?" King Ludwig asked. Matthew sighed.

"Not that I'm eager to take the role," he replied. "The kingdom needs someone in that position but we can't be sure Arthur is dead and until we know for sure …..."

"King Alfred will resist the idea of you becoming a replacement queen," Kiku finished, nodding knowingly.

"Not just me," Matthew replied. "Alfred would resist anyone. If only we knew, one way or the other if Arthur is dead or alive."

"Ve~ I hope he is," Feliciano said. "Then we could find a way to save him and then King Alfred wouldn't be sad any more."

"But surely Queen Arthur is dead?" Vash asked. "He's been frozen in ice for days. That would kill any other human being."

"But Arthur created the ice in the first place," Yao replied. "It's his power so it is possible that Arthur is somehow still alive in that ice but we need to find out for sure, aru." Matthew thought for a moment.

"There might be a way to discover that," he said, moving toward the door. "Excuse me for a moment, I need to talk to my brother."

Alfred was stood outside the throne room by the ice that blocked the door, staring at Arthur, frozen within its depths. He hated that he was so near, yet so far from Arthur and there's was nothing he could do about it. Nothing that he knew of, anyway.

The was a new addition to the corridor outside the throne room now. Arthur's horse had been retrieved and the Queen's Crown found in the saddle bags so Alfred had a special glass cabinet made and put outside of the doors of the throne room, as close as it could be put near Arthur and the Queen's Crown now resided within on a royal blue velvet cushion, under guard. Alfred vowed that, as along as there was a chance that Arthur was still alive, no other would wear the crown.

A guard stood there now but, after saluting the King, went back to his guard position, unsurprised to see Alfred there, it had become a common sight for the King to just appear at the throne room and he would spend what time he had, just staring at the Queen, after petting Flying Snow Bunny, who was always around the ice-coated room. He was in danger of melting if he went anywhere. Even FSB was convinced that Arthur was still alive but, if asked if he could sense Arthur's thoughts or emotions, the snow rabbit had to answer no.

Alfred stared at Arthur's figure, willing him to open his eyes and allow him to see those beautiful, emerald-green orbs again but Arthur's eyes remained resolutely shut. Alfred just wanted a sign, a definite sign that Arthur was still alive because, right now, Alfred was stuck in limbo and under pressure to resolve the 'no queen' issue but Alfred could not let Arthur go without some hint that he would be doing the right thing. He could not give up on Arthur like that.

"Alfred!" Alfred was pulling from his musings by his brother's voice and he turned to see Matthew walking down the corridor toward him. The guard gave Matthew a salute which he returned and then turned his attention to Alfred.

"Alfred, we have to do something," Matthew said. "We can't be without a queen for too long." Alfred turned back to look at Arthur.

"I didn't realise that you wanted to be Queen so badly," Alfred winced at his own voice. He did not mean to sound so harsh but frustration at the current situation was making him snappy. Matthew looked offended.

"Because you're upset," he said, diplomatically. "I'll overlook what you just said. I don't want the queen's position, or any other for that matter. I've had an idea to find out if Arthur is dead or alive, once and for all." Alfred looked back at Matthew with a hint of hope.

"What?" he asked.

"The Troll Chieftains," Matthew replied. "They might know. And if Arthur is alive, they may know of a way to free him. If he isn't …..."

"He is!" Alfred said, adamantly. "I know he is …... but I can't remember the way. I only went there once that I can remember. What about you?" Matthew gave it some thought.

"I can't remember it with any certainty," he admitted. "But I know someone who knows the way. Let's go and see Lars."

The last thing Lars expected to see was Spadian guards come through the door of his trading post, although Matthew was a less surprising sight as he had promised to come and see Lars after everything was settled. When he saw the King with him, he knew this was not a social call.

After the defeat of King Ivan's plans and the crisis in Spades was averted, things were very confused and Alfred was...distracted to say the least, trying anything and everything to break the ice surrounding the Queen but nothing worked and Lars was not really surprised, considering the circumstances. This was magic ice, not natural so it stood to reason that it would not behave like natural ice so it was not going to melt, even with fire and it would resist being chipped away. Yao worked unceasingly to get things back to normal, assisted by former Jack Edward while Alfred, along with Matthew's help, organised the army, along with the soldiers of Diamonds and Hearts, to round up any remaining Clubs soldiers and place them under house arrest until the Clubs entourage were ready to leave Spades when they would be escorted to the Clubs ships.

The ship that Queen Arthur had been imprisoned on had weighed anchor and ran when it became apparent that things had gone wrong, before they could be apprehended as they were mercenaries and owed no loyalty to anyone so they gave it up as a loss and ran.

Lars stayed as long as he could, to help where he could and to support Matthew, getting to know the Spadian Ace properly in the process, but with the magic winter at an end, travellers would be back on the road and trade would be picking up so he needed to get back to the trading post. He could not leave Emma and Henri to cope alone.

He was happy to see Matthew but he did not expect to see him this soon and he knew Matthew was here on a mission and he knew it was something to do with King Alfred and Queen Arthur.

"Greetings, King Alfred," he said while he and Henri bowed and Emma curtsied. Then he turned to Matthew with a smile. "Greetings, Ace Matthew. How are things progressing at the palace?"

"Slowly but surely," Matthew replied. "But we need a favour from you." Lars nodded.

"What can I do for you?"

"We need you to show us the way to the Troll Chieftains again," Alfred jumped in before Matthew could answer. "We need to see them, they may be the only ones who can help us find a way to save Arthur." Lars was taken aback by the intensity of Alfred's reply.

"Please," Matthew said. "They may be our last hope." Lars looked at his younger brother and sister.

"Can you manage things until I return?" he asked. Henri and Emma nodded.

"We can hold the fort for a day or two," Henri replied. "Go see if you can save the Queen."

Lars kept giving Matthew side glances as they once again rode the path that would take them to the Trolls, thinking that the Spadian Ace looked a little drawn since he last saw him, not surprising considering the recent problems and ongoing issues of Spades at the moment but he did not like to see Matthew suffering. Lars had faced the fact that his feelings for Matthew had grown deeper and he was now in love with the Ace of Spades. He only hoped that their little trip to the Trolls would grant Matthew, and Alfred, the help and peace they needed.

Matthew knew that Lars was throwing glances at him and he knew why. He had grown fond of the trading post owner and, in the days after the crisis ended, that fondness had morphed into love. Lars's presence in the following days had been a great support for Matthew and he had missed Lars after he had to return to the trading post but he wondered what the future would hold for a Spadian Ace and a trading post owner, if anything.

As focused as he was on finding help for Arthur, Alfred would have to be blind to miss the back and forth between his brother and Lars and, despite his own troubles, smiled. His brother deserved love and affection after all the years of loneliness he had been subjected to, that had made him an easy target for Ivan's schemes and, once they were done with this, Alfred would make sure his brother was never alone again.

When Lars led them into the grove that they saw the Trolls last time, they did not expect to find both the Red and Black Jokers waiting for them but no Troll Chieftains.

"Took you long enough," Gilbert smirked as Peter munched on an apple. Alfred frowned.

"Did you know we would come here?" he demanded. "Just what are your powers, anyway?" Gilbert just tapped his nose.

"That would be telling," he replied. "But no power was needed here. I knew you wouldn't give up on the Queen of Spades so it was a matter of time before you came to the Troll Chieftains for help. Thought you would have come before this though."

"Yeah," Peter piped up. "How long were you going to leave my Jerk Brother stuck in the ice?"

"We had to get the kingdoms back into some semblance of order first," Matthew replied. "The situation with Clubs couldn't wait but we're here now. Are the Troll Chieftains here?"

"Yes," came Lukas's voice from the shadows and he walked out of them, followed by the other four chieftains. Alfred came forward to meet them and they bowed to each other. "Greetings, King Alfred."

"Greetings, High Chieftain Lukas," Alfred replied. "I seek your help. Is Arthur still alive? My instincts say he is but ….."

"You should trust your instincts, Your Majesty," Lukas replied. "Queen Arthur is indeed still alive but trapped by his own power. In order to save Spades, he had to take the ice into his own heart and now he holds it there, holds the ice that he pierced the heart of Spades with to begin with and so his heart is frozen. This is why the ice around the Queen cannot be cracked or melted."

"What can we do?" Alfred asked. "How can we get through the ice?" Emil shook his head.

"We only know what the Queen has done," he replied. "We can't even be sure how he managed to do it, it's a unique situation. You must remember that the Queen's power exceeds any ice magic ever seen before, even among my own tribe. I don't think there is a way to get through the ice."

"But there has to be a way to save Arthur!" Alfred exclaimed, desperately. "We can't let him stay trapped in ice for eternity." The other chieftains looked at each other.

"Maybe the rune stones?" Tino suggested.

"Rune stones?" Matthew said, questioningly. Matthias turned to the Spadian group.

"We don't know of a way to help Queen Arthur ourselves," he explained. "But in times of uncertainty, we consult the rune stones. They might point us in the direction of a solution." He turned to Lukas.

"Should we try?" he asked. Lukas nodded.

"I'll get th' st'ones," Berwald said and left the group. He was soon back with a beautifully carved box, clearly carved by skilled Troll hands and bearing Nordic symbols which he handed to Lukas who moved to a flat rock and took up a position so he was facing North before putting the box down on the rock. He opened the box and first thing anyone saw was a folded white cloth that Lukas removed and opened out, draping it over the flat rock. Then he took out a bag that clearly had something in it.

"Please be silent until I speak again," Lukas asked as the other chieftains came to stand by his side and, one by one, each of them reach into the bag with each hand, moved things around a little and withdrew what looked like a small square stone with a symbol on it. When each one of the chieftains had two stones, Lukas put the bag back in the box and then gathered the other stones from his fellow chieftains, put his hands together to enclose them, close his eyes and then cast the stones on to the white cloth.

All the chieftains bent over to examine the stones, Lukas more intently than the others as he bent down until his face was no more than a few inches above the stones and he was frowning. Alfred was worried and was about to speak but Matthew put his hand on Alfred's arm and shook his head so he remained silent.

"Strange," Lukas finally said. "Strange riddle."

"What do you mean 'riddle'?" Alfred asked. Lukas looked at him.

"If the runes have an answer," he replied. "They do not say it straight out but in the form of a riddle. The runes do have answer for you but it is for you to work out." Alfred was excited. If the runes did have an answer then he could save Arthur and he would work out the riddle.

"What do the runes say?" he asked.

"They say," Lukas replied. "Love can breach the prison of ice and tame the bitter winter but the warm heart must risk all to thaw its frozen half." Alfred, Matthew and Lars looked at each other.

"What does that mean?" Alfred asked. Lukas looked at him emotionless.

"That is what you must solve," he replied. "It is a riddle, after all."

"Why couldn't the runes just give a straight answer," he muttered. "Well, the 'prison of ice' must be the ice that's trapping Arthur, that much I get but the rest …..."

"We can help with the 'tame the bitter winter' bit," Peter said.

"Ja," Gilbert concurred. "Queen Arthur's powers are strong, too strong and were always going to be unstable but he was supposed to have a bond with someone that would be able to 'rein it in' as it were, to act as a calming influence when Arthur began losing control. That someone was you, Your Majesty, but then the accident occurred and Arthur became afraid of his powers and afraid of harming you again so he secluded himself and that bond never got a chance to grow. Create that bond and you will 'tame the bitter winter'."

"But how?" Alfred asked. "When I can't even get close to him." Matthew hummed.

"Love can breach the prison of ice," he mused. "Somehow your love must get you through the ice."

"Yes, but how," Alfred asked again. "And what does the warm heart must risk all to thaw its frozen half mean?"

"Well, the frozen half is clearly the Queen," Lars replied. "So the warm heart must be you."

"It's the risk all part that has me worried," Matthew admitted. "Risk it how?"

"This is for you to discover," Lukas interjected. "That is all the runes say and all we can do now, except wish you Good Fortune in your efforts to free Queen Arthur from his ice prison and hope to see him again by your side, King Alfred." Lukas reached into his robes and removed an amulet from around his neck, a simple disk of metal with a symbol hammered into it and handed it to Alfred.

"This is an amulet bearing the symbol of success, Your Majesty," he explained. "May it help you in your task." Alfred held the amulet in his hand and rubbed his thumb over the symbol.

"Thank you," he said. "And I promise, the next time you see me, Arthur will be with me." Lukas gave a small nod.

"I look forward to that day," he replied.

They made their way back to the palace, Lars accompanying them and rode through the gates to find Yao and Edward waiting for them by the main palace doors, eagerly awaiting what the group might have discovered.

"Well, Your Majesty," Yao asked. "What news, aru?"

"Well, the Trolls did have something for us," Alfred replied. "But it's in the form of a riddle. We think we know part of it but we have no idea how it relates to saving Arthur."

"Then Queen Arthur is still alive in the ice?" Edward said. Alfred nodded.

"Oh yeah," he replied. "He's alive."

"Take time to refresh," Yao said. "And we'll all meet the summer salon to discuss this and see if we can solve this riddle, aru."

Alfred past the throne room where Flying Snow Bunny lay, curled up against the ice and he stopped to look through the clear, frozen water at the still figure of his Queen and he vowed he was going to free Arthur from its grip. After petting FSB, Alfred continued on. The sooner he changed, the sooner he could meet Yao and the others to work out the riddle and the sooner he could get Arthur back.

Love can breach the prison of ice

And tame the bitter winter

But the warm heart must risk all

To thaw his frozen half.

Yao examined the words that he had written down as Alfred recited the riddle to him, trying to discover its secret. The prison of ice was easy to work out and Alfred explained what the Jokers had told about the meaning of tame the bitter winter and it lead Yao to an explanation of frozen half.

"I believe the warm heart and the frozen half," Yao said. "Refers to you, Queen and the bond you were supposed to share, aru."

"How do you mean?" Alfred asked.

"You were supposed to be the Queen's 'calming influence'," Yao explained. "So you are two halves of the same thing, the bond. You are the warm heart and the Queen is the frozen half, aru."

"That makes sense," Matthew replied. "But what about must risk all? That's the part that has me a little scared. Just what does Alfred have to risk?"

"Clearly the King must face some danger to free Queen Arthur," Edward surmised.

"But I still have to get through the ice," Alfred said. "And we still have no idea how I'm gonna do that. And how does love work in all this?"

"A blind man could see that you love the Queen, Your Majesty," Lars replied. "That must be the key and the warm heart can mean a heart full of love."

"But how does that help me get to Arthur?"

"There must be a way," Yao stated. "Why tell you this if you can't use it? I'm sure the solution will present itself soon, have faith, aru."

Days past and Alfred was no closer to find a way to free Arthur. How could his love get him through the ice to his imprisoned queen? On top of everything else, Alfred still had his royal duties to attend to which included seeing the other royal suits off as, one by one, they had to return home, if only to organise the promise aid to assist Spades during the winter. Clubs were the first to leave with their guards under escort until they reached the Clubs Navy ships which fell under the control of the Queen of Clubs and the guards were immediately confined below deck while Ivan and Natalya were locked in their quarters for the journey and would probably have their mental health assessed and, if the assessors agreed with the Queen and Jack (which was likely, King Dmitri had not been well-liked so, if Ivan and Natalya were so thoroughly influenced by him, it would not go down well), they would confined when they reached Clubs.

With many apologies and renewed promises to help Spades through the winter, the Clubs cortège were waved off as the ship weighed anchor and sailed out to sea.

The next to leave was the Hearts suit with much less security but with a heartfelt lament from Antonio that he would not see his Lovi for a long time, to which Lovino told him to stop being a soft-hearted bastard and they would see each other again, probably sooner than Lovino would like. Antonio just cooed and hugged Lovino, giving him a kiss which earned him an elbow in the ribs.

The rest of the Hearts cortège took their leave of their Spadian hosts, King Ludwig vowing to send aid as soon as he could arrange it which would be his first task upon reaching home while Alfred thanked him for Hearts' help during Ivan's attack. The whole business had strengthened relations between the two kingdoms, just as they had between Spades and Diamonds. Queen Kiku gave his hopes that soon Queen Arthur would be free and he hoped to work with him for the betterment of both their kingdoms and Jack Feliciano tearfully agreed. They then boarded their ship and they were on their way home to Hearts.

The last to leave was Diamonds and Queen Lili made a point of paying a visit to the throne room, putting her gloved hands against the ice and looking inside at her friend. She wished she knew how to help King Alfred find a way to free Arthur from his icy prison as she wanted to talk with Arthur again and she wanted to see King Alfred smile once more.

Alfred came down the corridor to see Lili looking into the throne room. If it was not for the fact that he knew that Lili was only a friend, he would have been jealous as Lili seemed to have gotten attached to Arthur in a very short space of time. She wanted Arthur freed as much as he did, she was one of Alfred's many allies in that and he knew that she was frustrated that she could do nothing to help.

"You're going to miss him, aren't ya?" he said, making her jump a little and she turned toward him.

"I know it's strange," she replied. "I only talked to him one night but you're right, I will miss him. He really needed a friend and I just wanted to help him so much."

"And you tried," Alfred said. "What did I do? Accuse the two of you of having an affair! I was wrong and I wanna apologise to you for that." Lili smiled.

"I accept your apology, Your Majesty," she replied. "I'm only sorry I won't be able to see Queen Arthur freed before I leave."

"I'll get him free!" Alfred vowed. "I will work that riddle out and I'll be bringing Arthur to visit Diamonds before you know it." Lili smiled.

"I hope so," she replied. "I must go now. Vash will come looking for me if I stay any longer. I'll see you at the ship." She reached up, kissed Alfred on the cheek and left. Alfred turned to look into the ice at the still figure of Arthur and made a sacred oath.

"I will save you, Arthur!"

Down at the harbour, the Diamonds suit was ready to board their ship and the Spades royals were seeing them off. Vash and Yao had had long discussion about trade between the two kingdoms, smoothing out any issues caused by the recent crisis. Antonio talked Ace talk with Matthew while Francis and Lili talked with Alfred.

"I will pray for your success, mon ami," Francis said. "I have faith that you will save your queen. Remember, the heart is warmed by love."

"I'll keep that in mind, Your Majesty," Alfred replied, holding out his hand for Francis to shake. "And when I do, I've already promised Queen Lili I would bring Arthur to Diamonds."

"I'll look forward to that," Francis replied. "I never really got a chance to talk to your queen."

"Just so long as you remember," Alfred warned. "That he's my queen." Francis just smiled at the jealousy Alfred displayed. Ah, L'amour!

After many farewells, the Diamonds suit board the small boat to take them out to their ship and it sailed away, finally freeing Alfred to concentrate on the one thing he deemed more important than anything.

Saving Arthur!

Weeks past and Alfred was getting no further in solving the riddle than he was when he returned from seeing the Troll Chieftains about it. He still had not figured out how Love can breach the prison of ice and now he was standing in front of the ice again, having dismissed the guard so he could be alone with Arthur and trying to make sense of the riddle, mentally sending his emotions through the ice and hoping he would see Arthur move but he remain frustratingly still and Alfred put his hand against the ice hoping that, somehow, his hand would pass through but no such luck. No magic passage through the ice, no reaching in and pulling Arthur out, just cold hands but Alfred kept his hands there. This was the closest he could get to Arthur.

"I'm trying, Arthur," he said to his ice-bound queen. "I'm trying to get you out but I don't know what the riddle means. I miss you! You should be here with now, awake and by my side. I want my Queen, Arthur, I want you! To rule at my side, to be my husband, to raise the children who'll be chosen to come after us. You hear me, Arthur! We can be parents! I want to raise children with you. I want to hold you again. I want to kiss you again and I want to grow old with you. Please show me some kind of sign that you can hear me?"

Alfred poured his heart into his plea, hoping against hope that there would be some movement from Arthur but it was Flying Snow Bunny, huddled up against the ice that noticed something. Water began to trickle down the ice to pool on the floor and FSB looked up at where the water was coming from.

"King Alfred!" he called and Alfred looked down at FSB and then at where the snow rabbit was looking and that was when he saw that his hand had melted into the ice but, as his thoughts moved away from Arthur and on to the melting ice, the ice began to refreeze and Alfred pulled his hand free before it became trapped. The ice had melted! What had caused it to melt? Alfred put his hand against the ice to see if it would melt again but it remain frozen so why had it melted? What was he doing different before that he was not doing now?

Arthur! He was thinking of Arthur, of him being at his side, raising the next generation of royals, of how much he loved Arthur.

Was that it? Love can breach the prison of ice. Did he need to concentrate on Arthur when he touched the ice, think about the love he had for his Queen? He put his hand against the ice and thought about the first time they kissed, outside the maze the night before the coronation. How he felt in that moment, the warmth of Arthur's lips against his and the love he felt.

The ice under his hand became wet and gave way for Alfred's hand to sink in and Alfred became excited. He had found to the key to reaching after but he had to pull his hand back again when the ice began to reform again as Alfred's thinking shifted away from Arthur again and that was when The warm heart must risk all became clear. He had to concentrate on Arthur to be able to reach him through the ice but if he lost focus for a moment, he could end up encased in the ice with Arthur.

He looked back at Arthur through the ice and, now that he knew how to get him out but knowing the risk, Alfred felt that Arthur was closer but also further away. If he did this and failed, it would leave Spades without a King or a Queen and it would leave Matthew without a brother but he had promised that he would save Arthur and could he face a lifetime of walking past this throne room, seeing Arthur trapped, knowing he had the means to free him but doing nothing?

It might have been selfish, it might have been putting his feelings before his duty but Alfred decided he could not leave Arthur trapped in the ice but should he let people know what he was about to do? Yao might try to talk him out of it, Matthew definitely would and Alfred was afraid that they might succeed so he decided to say nothing and he was just going to do this.

Keeping his eyes on Arthur, Alfred moved toward the ice and, with every step, began to think of everything, every glance at Arthur, every time Alfred saw him at his window, the first kiss again and everything Alfred hoped for the future with a lifetime of love with Arthur at his side with the children who would be revealed as the next generation, all the royals raising them but Alfred concentrated on Arthur and himself as two of the four guardians. The ice melted before him as he moved into the throne room and he did not look around to see what the ice was doing behind him, not daring to break his train of thought but, somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew the ice was reforming behind him but he just kept his eyes on Arthur and his thoughts on how much he loved him as he continued to walk.

Matthew and Yao walked down the corridor, looking for Alfred to discuss some state business that had come up and Matthew knew that they would probably find him at the throne room so they made their way there but the fact that the guard that was usually there was absent and Flying Snow Bunny looked a little concerned as he looked into the throne room, immediately told Matthew something was amiss. Alfred would have refused to leave the throne room and the Queen's crown unguarded so Matthew walked faster and reached the throne room, Yao hurrying to keep up and when he looked into the room, Matthew's heart dropped.

"ALFRED!" he cried and slammed his fist against the ice as he saw his twin moving inside, approaching the still figure of Arthur with the ice refreezing behind him. Alfred ignored his shouting, focused completely on just Arthur and Matthew went to strike the ice again but he was stopped by Yao.

"Don't!" he warned and looked toward Alfred moving through the ice. "The King has clearly found the answer to the riddle but remember...King Alfred must risk all to save the Queen so it would not be wise to distract him, aru." Matthew turned to look at Alfred's back and knew that Yao was right but that did not stop him from worrying that something would go wrong. All he could do was watch and pray.

Alfred was getting close now, there was maybe a foot of ice between himself and Arthur but Alfred was thinking of the kiss again, reliving every touch and sensation as he continued to get closer to Arthur and then Arthur appeared out of the ice. His face was tinted blue with the cold and he remained unconscious but held upright by the ice as Alfred came up to him but only now did Alfred realise that he had not given any thought to how he was to thaw Arthur's heart and revive him. What was he supposed to do? What did the riddle say? The warm heart must risk all to thaw its frozen half! Well, he had risked all, what else was he to do? That was when he felt the cold in his feet and creeping up his legs and he looked down to see that the ice had reformed and was encroaching into the space that he had created. What was he going to do? He could not go back, that was the very opposite of the love for Arthur that had gotten him this far. He was going to fail! He did not know what to do, he was going to fail!

Matthew watched Alfred reach Arthur and waited for something to happen, for Arthur to move and get rid of the ice that surrounded Alfred and himself but nothing happened. Then, to his horror, he could see the bubble around Alfred and Arthur begin to fill up with ice. Alfred was about to be trapped in the ice with Arthur and there was nothing Matthew could do to stop it!

He was going to be trapped in the ice, Alfred was sure of that. He had failed to save Arthur and Spades would be left without two members of its suit but there was nothing Alfred could to about it. He had made the gamble and it did not pay off and Alfred could only hope that their replacements would be found soon and he knew that Matthew would make a good king.

The ice was back up to their waists now and getting higher very quickly and he could already feel the ice by his back behind him but he was going to do one more thing before the ice trapped him forever and he would let the ice trap him while doing this so he would be doing this for eternity. As the ice rose, Alfred reached forward with his head to capture Arthur's lips with his own, One final kiss as the ice rose up to enclose them entirely.

Yes, I know! I'm evil, Muahahahaha!