Days later, three brothers once again sat together at dinner. Nik and Johan told Aksel of their conversations and other events on the eastern front. The problems there had been settled, and Damond had agreed to join the Northern Alliance. "I hope to never do anything such as that again," Nik mused when the tale was done. "What of the coronation, Aksel? Did you enjoy yourself?"

The youngest brother was silent for several moments, his eyes focused on the wall. Nik was about to prod him when he finally spoke. "I'm glad your trip was successful, my brothers. Of the group of us, I would argue that your trip was the least trying," Aksel stated matter-of-factly.

Nik stared at his brother, studying his expression. "What do you mean, Aksel? After what I had to do? It took the entire journey back for Johan to convince me I'm not a monster, though even now I have doubts. You went to a coronation. How trying could that have been?" His brother's strained face gave him pause. "What happened in Arendelle?"

Aksel rose from the table and began to pace, thoughts crossing his face rapidly as his breathing quickened. Finally, he stopped and looked to Johan. "Johan, remember when we were little, and Nik would lose his temper and release his magic in wild bursts? Remember how we learned that we could feel the air charge as his magic rose, and knew it was time to either try to calm him or take cover?"

"Indeed," Johan recalled, smirking. "Father was impressed when we helped him learn to recognize it as well. I can still feel it when Nik uses his magic. Why do you bring it up?"

Aksel continued slowly. "At the coronation, I felt that same charge in the air. I brushed it off as an automatic response to the scared expression on the Queen's face. At the banquet and ball afterward, however, I learned differently." He locked eyes with Nik then. "You aren't the only one with magical abilities. Hers were not controlled at the time, but she's gained much control over them in the last week."

"She?" Nik asked, confused, his memories of Damond suddenly fading. "What do you mean I'm not alone? Who else has magical powers?" He looked hard at his youngest brother, and realized that Aksel had seen far more than he had ever imagined. "Tell me everything."

Aksel returned to the table and sat. When he leaned forward and spoke, his voice barely carried, as if he were trying to share a secret. "They're calling her the Ice Queen. Queen Elsa of Arendelle inadvertently revealed that she has ice and snow powers. At the ball, she released her power with no control, and literally froze the entire kingdom. The youngest Southern Isles brother, Hans, tried to use the events to usurp the kingdom. It took Elsa's sister, Anna, performing an act of true love to save her life to show her how to control it enough to no longer endanger her people."

Nik sat back in his chair, staring dumbly at Aksel. He blinked a few times before closing his eyes and lowering his head to his hands. After a moment, he glanced back up at his brother. "You're sure? Absolutely sure you didn't dream this?"

Aksel nodded. "The kingdom froze. The Princess and Prince Consort of Corona were there if you would like to ask for their side of it."

Nik sat for a moment longer, then rose silently and left the room, leaving his brothers to stare after him.

The climb to the top of the watchtower never cleared his mind, but the night air often did. Now, Nik stood alone, the wind swirling around him while he came to terms with what Aksel's news meant.

He had believed he was alone with his magical powers his entire life, and had distanced himself from everyone but his brothers. Sure, there were rumors, but he knew of no one who had been born with magic like he was and still possessed it. He could only think of one; his friend, the King of Corona's daughter, who had lost her powers when her hair was cut. To find out now that there was someone else who would understand, and that he could even help her learn to control her own powers...it was a feeling unlike any other.

After a few hours atop the watchtower, Nik made his decision. If ever a chance to meet this Ice Queen arose, he didn't care what was going on. He would drop everything and travel to Arendelle. Aksel had not announced that his powers existed, so he knew Elsa thought she was alone with her powers as well.

How he looked forward to letting her know that was not the case. Perhaps there'd be an excuse to travel there soon. And perhaps she might enjoy meeting the Storm King.