We do not own 'Frozen' or any of its characters.

"Frozen Again: 'Love Never Ends"

Act VIII

Chapter 36

'Birthday Thrills and Chills"

With a blindfold on, eh, Agdar?

The undaunted man was doing his utmost not to look incapacitated by any standard as he slowly moves down the front entrance into the right-hand hallway of Arendelle Castle while servants here and there bustled to and fro.

As he had previously stated to his wife, Agdar had grown up in this castle, isolated and alone by order of his own strict, frightened parents who were so distanced from the lonely boy he had an agonizing, friendless childhood.

The statues, the paintings, the architecture, in fact, the very hallways all had been his only friends in his formative years. So of course a calm Agdar could still walk through the rooms blindfolded.

But maybe confidence was the one thing the King of Arendelle was secretly lacking right now.

"Shall I swing you as high as the sky this morning, Miss?" Agdar smiles at his lonesome memories of the idyllic summery scenic painting by renowned painter Jean-Honore Fragonard, one of the many collected in the Gallery sitting room of Arendelle Castle.

What the bleary-eyed King did not see as he was distractedly striding towards one of his favorite old friends illustrated in the lively painting, was a newly erected tabletop desk full of flowers and birthday cards and decorations in the center of the room.

"Whoa! Watch your step, Sir!" Fortunately Kristoff Bjorgman had been prescient enough to keep an eye out for his debilitated father-in-law wandering alone in the castle. After peeking in the Gallery from the long hall, the intuitive muscular man raced down to deftly halt the older man from tripping over the leg of the ornate flower table.

"I am sorry for being such trouble, Son. I appear to be more rickety and rather debilitated even in my own home, just trying to get a closer look at my favorite painting of the Masters." Agdar apologizes with a small self-deprecating chuckle.

"It's your favorite, too? Just like Anna! She always loves to drag me outside to her favorite big tall oak tree and push her on that swing –" Sensing he wanted to talk, Kristoff begins to make pleasant conversation as he straightens his father-in-law's left shoulder epaulette that had been knocked crooked during the man's near tumble.

"– 'as high as the sky'. Yes, I remember the days of my baby's childhood well." The King says with a touch of melancholy that those precious days with his little girls were over. "When it's your turn to have a little girl who looks up to you to be her hero with those wide endless pools of bright eyes, and begs you push her higher and higher, Kristoff, please don't ever let her fall off that swing." The contrite father speaks advice from experience quietly to his son-in-law.

"Yes…sir." Kristoff didn't quite know how to answer this tender mood of the King who suddenly remembers his place and shakes off the uncertainty.

"I'm sure a quick peek in the Throne Room to see what all these decorators have done in there should cheer me up. If you don't mind, son?" The King nods to several bowing servants who had been hired just for this occasion, scurrying about on their hectic schedules with final birthday decorations and guest accommodations beyond normal castle duties.

Relying on Kristoff's strong arm to lead the way, King Agdar finally makes it to the Throne room, the one place in the entire bustling kingdom he was sure would remain untouched from this outlandish Masquerade Ball.

Idun and Anna had dreamed this special party up for Elsa and it was to be the center of attraction and not the usual pomp and circumstance of mere entertaining dull and pompous foreign visitors from all parts of the world –

Speak of the—! What is he doing sitting on sitting on my throne!?

"Next interview in an orderly fashion, if you please." Chancellor Esteban Flores had been faithfully bringing in Arendelle citizen after citizen for days now to hear their complaints and problems caused by this especially elongated period of subzero temperature befalling the country.

The older man dutifully stifles a yawn as he lifts his chin with a cultured goatee and salt-and-pepper moustache that complemented the thick curl of his hair that framed his oblong face to look up from the Throne he'd been sitting on since the wee hours.

The tireless servant of the people who had been left in charge of the kingdom by Queen Idun during the crisis, had run Arendelle's governmental administration like clockwork, making decisions and rulings like a natural born leader from sun up to sun down and beyond.

Esteban had been making decrees for whatever issue or request the good citizens of Arendelle had with a magnanimous, welcoming smile for three weeks now. When the blizzard storm became too cold for the townspeople running out of wood to feed their fires, Esteban opened up the castle to all, sure the King and Queen would do the same.

And then there were countless more birthday Masquerade Ball preparations to deal with.

Fortunately for all, from all his years guarding over Avalor, Esteban became extremely effective at making preparations run smooth. So, while he dealt with governmental matters, the Chancellor delegated the courses of food, gift and flower arranging, as well as costume display in the dressing room – all in need of a woman's delicate touch for an exquisite celebration waltz as this– to Johanne Roservalen's capable hands, treating her as more a partner than a ladies' maid.

But that meant their mutual responsibilities kept them apart in the opposite ends of Arendelle Castle. Neither long-lost friend had much of a chance to spend some quality time together, beyond the general morning greeting and administrational discussions of the day's events here and there at mealtimes.

And yet… I have never felt this overwhelming completeness and compatibility since I have been here, my pretty little yellow poppy, Johanne. It's the same feeling as when we were dancing all night decades ago, which seems but yesterday…

Esteban wrenches himself from his nostalgic romantic musing to be suddenly staring in the not-so-pleasant face of an irate King's icy eyes instead.

Agdar's ginger blond moustache was bristling at just who he finds had the audacity to so comfortably sit as replacement on his throne.

"Agdar! My old friend! It has been a long time!" Turning on the charm quick, a sleepy-eyed Chancellor Esteban wakes instantly, standing up from the wine velvet throne immediately with a hand extended to the stiffened Ice King only a few feet before him.

"Yes, Esteban, it has been." The ice hackles threateningly at the back of the previously becalmed Norwegian King's neck and the cold temperature creeps down in the room. Agdar stares at the cheerful rapport of the man he once considered a rival for his new wife Idun's attention on their what was supposed to be their romantic extended honeymoon visit to the South American land twenty-five years ago.

A weirded-out Kristoff takes a few steps back from all the sudden bad vibes exuding between his father-in-law and this tall, dark Hispanic stranger. The King was on the verge of losing both his hot temper and cold control of his cryokinetics again to come home to find this well-dressed, old friend of Idun's gallivanting as ruler, swilling wine and sitting on the King's throne of Arendelle kingdom as if he owned the place.

The Wind Whisperer glances down to see King Agdar silently seething ice smoke vapors from his hung open mouth and flared nostrils over his crispy moustache.

All good thoughts… All good thoughts…No road rage…

"I am surprised to find you looking so very well, my friend, after that harrowing ordeal with that vindictive Diablo monster Iduna described in that letter Johanne and I received. She had informed us all was well with you in the North." Esteban addresses the King warmly and shakes his hand with a pat to the Ice King's tense shoulder in a familiarity greeting. "And may I say what a stunning kingdom you and my poco canora have here, Agdar. I am so glad to have endured the frigid waters of the sea to finally come and visit after all these long years. May I offer you a glass of this most delectable, scrumptious wine?"

"My songbird Idun did not even mention you would be arriving, Chancellor Esteban, let alone tell me she placed you in full reign of the country. How long did you say you were staying?" King Agdar's abrasive masculine disposition when it came to the charming debonair foreign gentleman wearing a wine red royal jacket and frilled yellow tie had not been diminished over time as he stares Esteban down for several defiant seconds with a chilly eye.

Finally, with a little clearing of his throat, the tall gentleman puts his wine glass down to a table at the side of the throne. Then the tall, debonair Chancellor breaks the combative gaze with an amicable simper and raises his dark brow down to his younger, easily set-off, pale friend. Esteban twirls own coiffed moustache as he gestures for the King and Kristoff to follow him from the Throne Room and back down the Great Hall through the Gallery.

"When Elena heard of this voyage to the continent Crown Prince Alonso was making – at your personal invitation I was told – she contacted our mutual friend, King Juan Ramos of Argentina. He then requested me to accompany his son to see that the boy did not get into any further mischief. You see, young Alonso does have quite a reputation with the ladies – so I thought I should come to warn you and Idun of that, at least before he became too involved with your delicate rare flower of a child." Esteban motions a gloved hand to the framed portrait painting of the two sweet-faced and innocent Arendelle princesses with Kristoff, Olaf and Sven too, which Elsa had commissioned for her sister Anna's summer solstice birthday two years back.

"I also thought it would be nice to meet with my old friends Agdar and Iduna in my declining years. And of course I would never pass up the chance to meet with my pretty little poppy, Johanne again. I must confess to you, Agdar, that she has been a fortress and anchor for your people in weathering this blizzard storm." Esteban answers more reflectively, receiving a small wave from Queen Idun's faithful ladies' maid who was changing the flowers in the gallery painting room.

"Yeah, Johanne is a good woman. She always has taken care of this family, from what I've heard and what I've seen. When we go out on adventures we can always count on her and her brother Kai to watch over the kingdom, without saying a word." Relaxed Kristoff steps forward to bring to the easily disturbed King's attention to the less controversial subject of the older maid whom everybody in the household liked well.

"Yes. Yes I remember now how close you and Johanne became when we visited Avalor all those years ago. I think she did always hold a soft spot for you, you old devil." At the mention of his old nanny, Agdar's hard line face softens as the men find mutual ground at last they could agree on.

That's a relief. For a few minutes in trepidation, Kristoff thought he may have had to break up a scuffle between the two older gentlemen in the tense confrontational atmosphere.

{"What was that, Kristly? We're busy playing with the porcelain animals in the zoo you helped build in our play room! I can't focus on you too good for having so much FUN with this amazing sky diorama the kids in Sunday school class made for Elsa! Bring in the pair of pink and yellow earth ponies from their pen, Olaf! Eliana, you grab the purple and white unicorn couple. Watch their sparkly horns! The boy one has gold hair, like Kristly. Heeheehee! Elsa, you can make the pegasuses – or is that 'pegasi'? Whichever - fly with your ice magic! Aren't they pretty?! I've got the griffin chickies! 'Whinny! Neigh! Hoot-hoot! Cheep-cheep! Clip-clop-clippity clop!'"} Anna was busy making so many different animal sound effects to go with the cute detailed figures she and the snowpeople were animating that she had Elsa in stitches with her antics displaying her new mythical creature porcelain toys.

{"Glad you're having fun, Feisty Pants. I managed to calm your Dad down before he went all ice crazy over finding this Chancellor guy sitting on his throne. They're going into the study now to greet some guests. Then we'll be heading to dining room, I hope. I'm a little more than hungry myself for breakfast, so you gals better start putting away your little ponies and start getting ready to come down, too."} Kristoff could mentally just see the two girls playing with all those new winged and horned fragile ceramic presents that Kristoff had carefully helped Anna assemble in the 'Queen's Collection Room' featuring imported dolls and porcelain figurines of all kinds that fascinated Elsa, particularly unicorns and pegasus.

{"Breakfast?! We'll be at the feeding trough when the gong rings! But first we have to corral the Yakyaks from Yakyakistan next, Elsa"} Anna sends her psychic message in silly creature terms to an eye rolling Kristoff, who turns back to pay attention to the more serious gentlemen's conversation.

"As I was telling Iduna, I do hope Prince Alonso was not too much of a gallivanting handful on your adventure, particularly concerning your beauteous daughter. Where is the boy, anyway? Did you need to dismiss him? I feel extremely remiss to King Juan Ramón for not keeping him in check. As well as to you, Agdar, for not warning of the spoiled young Argentine prince's bad reputation with the ladies in your initial correspondence. But I did not wish to cause trouble between your nations during any trade negotiations." Esteban strokes his curled moustache with an apologetic nod to Elsa's father.

"Not that I have seen, Chancellor. Of all reports I have heard and what I have - ahem - seen, Prince Alonso behaved as a proper gentleman and served to be a valuable member of our party, even in dire straits. So you need not reproach yourself in that." Agdar was feeling more in command as Kai, redressed and freshened up, comes to his leader's side, relieving Kristoff of his watch over the King, and to give Esteban his usual disapproving, snobbish look.

"That is a great weight off my shoulders. Though Prince Alonso displays a major conceited vanity failing, I find he is but a harmless pup, licking his wounds of a broken heart's status – at least according to my cousin, Queen Elena. I find Elena has become very wise in matters concerning the heart, much like Iduna. The ladies have an insight in this delicate subject we never will, eh, my friends?" The dashing Chancellor affably bows to Agdar and Kai both as he opens the door for them. At the same time, Kristoff makes an excuse to depart before entering the study he sensed was full of strangers he would not fit in with at all.

"No doubt this is why the several young gentlemen of royal lineage who fit the bill of 'eligible bachelor' recently arrived at the Castle were not on the guest list Iduna provided me with when she left… I did not realize yourself or your daughter was so well acquainted with that many kingdoms, Agdar. Nonetheless, while you are becoming acquainted with them, I will sort out the kingdom's more mundane affairs with Minister Kai which occurred in your absence." Esteban calmly comments as he sweeps open the door of the King's study at the end of the hall where he had instructed the servants to gather the eager young visitors who all were chomping at the bit to meet the King – and moreover his daughter, who was the Queen.

Not wishing to display his visual disability before these foreign royal representatives, proud Agdar was glad his innate naval sense of direction and improved hearing had pointed the sight impaired man to walk straight into the study and not, for instance, crash into the pillars between the doorway or the moved coffee table soon within.

"Your Majesty! Did I not tell you boys that I heard a carriage or two approaching the drive earlier? It is a pleasure to finally stand in your presence, at long last, King Agdar. I have heard so much about your mysterious and magical kingdom from fellow princes and foreign dignitaries that have not done justice to extol its beauty of majestic flawlessness enough. I cannot describe your taste in your exquisite gallery of paintings of the Masters without giving you my salute. And I hear your daughter is every bit as stunning a work of art to befit this glorious setting." Flowery Prince Charles Auguste of Milan, a dark brown haired man of medium height and sharp wit was eldest of the group at the ripe old age of 29. He was also probably the verbally smoothest of these sparring royal suitors gathered, and quickest to deferentially bow to King Agdar.

The Italian royal who was highly interested in art was the first person in the full room to recognize the royal ruler whose coronation portrait he had been studying in the library for the past couple of days. He arrived over a week ago in anxious wait to meet the King who invited him personally to attend his advantageously regal – and unattached – daughter's birthday celebration.

Soon, the other five Royal Princes had swiftly raced into the King's study. Each wanted to be the first to impress the King the minute their footmen gave them the heads up from Charles Auguste's man. So their servants got them awake tout suite at this 8AM hour and altogether presentable to go downstairs and vie to King Agdar for Queen Elsa's audience.

The half-dozen princes of all races and girth and sizes were all of the twentysomething range and had been arranged to attend this birthday event months ago at the King of Arendelle's personal request. The highly eligible bachelors were each eager to meet the beautiful, poised and powerful Queen of Arendelle now that she had returned home.

"Yes, I agree with Charles Auguste about Arendelle's incomparable majesty. But I would like to add that your kingdom also has a certain domestic appeal of hearth and home that all other nations – even those beyond the European scope – must envy." An especially assertive, especially tall, tan skinned young Prince Khalid of Khaldune was next to address the King, giving Agdar a flourishing bow from his green with gold and maroon trimmed jacket and white baggy pants covering his very tall six-foot five height physique.

"Oh, come now, Auguste. 'Extolling the beauty'? 'Incomparable Majesty', Khalid? That sounds so corny! You've got to forgive my friends, King Agdar. They adore reciting poetry to women and tend to embellish their opinion on both. Don't get me wrong, they're really great guys. I'm Prince James of Enchancia. Just your average, all-around friendly guy. Thanks for inviting me and my family to your kingdom. It sounds like a great party. My sisters Amber and Sofia are nuts about great dress up dos, so I had to bring them along. Hope you don't mind." The down-to-earth, tawny gold hair, easy-going Iberic Prince of Enchancia elbows his old buddy Prince Desmond of Burgundy, both about the same 22-year-old age.

The pensive, more thoughtful young man from the Swiss-French border kingdom colors at the mere mention of the name of Prince James' audacious sister, Amber, whom Desmond always had a not so secret, unrequited love crush on since they were kids.

"Oh! Th–that-Tha-that that's r-r-rright, James! P-Princess Am-Am-Amber enjoys d-d-dancing very much." Ending in a sheepish whisper, the pale skinned, tan haired Prince from Switzerland was a stuttering top student who legitimately earned his scholastic awards. The timid young man glances up from where he had been devouring the entire history of Norway in books. The slight, skinny lad with spectacles was leaning in the windowsill to garner enough light to read in this land of the polar night's winter time.

"This bookworm buddy who likes to read is named Prince Desmond of Burgundy. He's kinda shy, and wouldn't say so himself, because it's probably on his list of frights, but he also likes your gallery of paintings. We were checking them out before and he could name almost every one by painter and date." The ruddier complexioned Spaniard speaks up again, obviously accustomed to filling in the blanks for his quiet friend, who blushes under the compliment.

"I especially like the one Queen Elsa painted herself of her sister Princess Anna hanging upside down from an oak tree. It's so lifelike, she looks like she's having such fun." The non-stuttering words come spilling out all at once in an added-on whisper that Agdar found rather charming in this immature young Prince.

"Why, thank you, Prince Desmond. I'll be certain to pass that on to Queen Elsa and Princess Anna later." The King goes out of his way to be especially polite to the shy young man.

"That quiet dark fellow in the murky corner playing with your abacus is Prince Otho of Crete. We just met, but he seems really into numbers and super smart like Desmond is with reading, but rather at mathematics." Unaffected by any rivalry which the others seemed to be affected with, generous Prince James, had taken on the role of self-appointed suitor spokesman for the ones who were recalcitrant to approach the stoic, imposing King of Arendelle.

"It is very good to meet all of you, Your Highnesses. I thank each of you royal princes for answering my invitations to attend Queen Elsa's 23rd birthday celebration. I commend you all for persevering in your voyages, despite the inclement temperatures and rough journey here. I assure you that normally the Norwegian seas are not as… violent –" Agdar begins to formally welcome the five princes who had extremely different personalities and backgrounds already on display in the first few minutes of meeting them. But that's when he hears raised voices bickering at one another behind his back as he shakes his aching head wondering what on earth he was thinking a month or two ago inviting them all here to his castle sanctuary.

"Excuse me, Your Majesty." With a clipped bow, Chancellor Esteban smoothly ducks out into the Arendelle Castle foyer to run interference.

"I thought I detected the fragrance of roses! Was that Queen Elsa in the hall out there!?" Tall Khalid had the height advantage to peer over Agdar and Esteban's heads where he thought he saw a tall blonde holding a large flower bouquet at the base of the staircase.

"Where!?" The other four rabid princes cry out all at once, knocking each other aside after Esteban had made the mistake of opening the door to peek back in to say all was well.

"I envisioned her as being more…ergh…petite, no? Maybe my spectacles are smudged…"

"Move out of the way, Otho!"

"They do say Scandinavian women are exceptional. Just maybe not as delicate as I perceived."

"Hey, I can't see with all of you lugs in the way! Cut the girl some slack, it's her birthday. Maybe she's just not a morning person."

"Who is that man with the flowers that she's… attacking…? Guys, that's definitely not the Queen."

"Pardon me, gentlemen." Esteban turns on his heel to see to the kerfuffle. Wanting to get a better view himself, half-blind King Agdar and the others soon follow him in curiosity.

"Mr. Bjorgman? What is the meaning of this?" Chancellor Esteban wonders why on earth the blond Ice Harvester would be strong arm cuffing some twirly moustached, sepia brown slicked back haired man wearing princely clothing in an unforgiving arm-pinned-behind-back-arm grip.

"The meaning of this is that I found this peeping tom jerk trying to sneak into Queen Elsa's personal quarters with who knows what nefarious intentions in mind so early in the morning. He claims to be someone by the unfortunate name of 'Prince Vittorio Emmanuel of Sardinia' – wherever that is!- with the sorry excuse of wanting to have been the first to present a romantic happy-sappy birthday bouquet to your daughter, King Agdar. But fresh roses in the middle of winter? I don't buy it. His eyes are shifty." Upon wandering outdoors, Kristoff did NOT take well at all to finding this foreign jerk rummaging about at the window trellis and climbing up it to where the mountainman's wife and her sister were inside dressing for breakfast.

Ever in his role as suspicious royal husband despite being well attired in his tight fitting vest and pale blue jacket, Kristoff Bjorgman accuses the large set, presumptive, idealistic Sardinian man of skulking along the castle rear gardens and climbing into the window of the royal bedroom belonging to the idolized Ice Queen Elsa.

"Shifty!? Capo Tosta! Iscassiadu! (stubborn hardhead) (Angry!)!" The romance Latin language of the sporty Sardinian Prince explodes in bad temper at Kristoff, who was unperturbed being screamed at by any mad man he towered over.

In the irritated mountaineer's staunch clutches, the big boned and beefy 21-year-old young Italian had little chance of not being collared by the formidable muscleman, even without the assistance of Arendelle's guardsmen. They had been co-opted by the numerous hired servants and citizenry party planners to help decorate the castle's exterior courtyard at such short notice now that the blizzard stopped.

"I only have just arrived this morning from the sea, Your Majesty, and was merely attempting to bring the Queen this fine birthday bouquet I carefully preserved all the way from my country, to brighten up her day at the early start. But that is when this…uomo sciocco (fool man)…grabbed me and destroyed my fragile floral surprise! Now I have nothing to give the Queen. Nothing." Emotional with his gesturing hands, Prince Vittorio Emmanuel of Sardinia was very upset as he gazes down at his broken-headed, colossal rose bouquet of Saint Efisio flowers he had his people carefully preserve to impress Queen Elsa and sweep her off her feet with his unparalleled floral splendor.

The young Mediterranean Prince now looked about as high-spirited as his wilting bouquet of hothouse flowers after he had braved the cold morning to go out to his formerly ice stranded ship and fetch the massive pink and red and white colored rose bouquet from its handmade greenhouse. But a ticked-off Kristoff had efficiently confiscated the spray to check for dangerous weapons or insidious bugs before returning the manhandled drooping bunch of flowers to the poor frustrated man.

"Yes, please understand, Sir, that my resourceful son-in-law merely overreacted because he did not recognize your no doubt, unintentionally, suspect presence. You must see how it would appear from the ground to an unacquainted person, peering in bedroom windows, seeing as you'd only arrived this morning and had not proper introduction yet. But I am certain Prince Vittorio Emmanuel will not make the same mistake again, Prince Kristoff. So please, son, loosen your grip on the good Prince now, and shake hands to show there is no ill will on this auspicious day. Then, I ask you both to join us for a civilized morning meal together." The peacemaking King gives the brash 21-year-old boy a pleasant smile and hand warning followed by an instructive nod for the Snow Prince to let the Italian youth's collar go, followed up with bringing an uncomfortable Kristoff in towards the dining area with a hand on his son-in-law's stiffened shoulder.

"I can only give you our utmost apologies for this misunderstanding, Prince Vittorio. Please, with your celebrated liberality, we ask pardon for this unseemly reception. Let us start afresh. I, King Agdar of Arendelle, welcome you warmly to our kingdom and beg your attendance to my daughter's Masquerade Ball later this evening. I will be certain to make special note to Queen Elsa of your well-intentioned greeting, which I am certain she will smile kindly upon its solicitous floral beauty as intended. Please do join us for breakfast now."

After all we must at least give the appearance of being hospitable to our guests, as foolhardy, brash as this ill-tempered Sard youth may be. King Agdar smirks after giving his most benign smile to the youth as he looks over the half dozen princes from several various countries.

All were comely, all of recommended highborn breeding, and all of vastly eligible backgrounds, but certainly they all came in varied degrees of manners and temperaments.

But who among them could even come close to comparing to that fine-looking, charming and unfortunately utterly engaging, thirteenth in-line Dane? I am loathe to say it, but I wouldn't know which of these I'd prefer as a potential son-in-law over Prince Hans, at first impression… The concerned father was just about to let out a disappointed sigh when Kai waves the King's attention before he goes to ring the breakfast gong.

"Grazie meda (Thank you much), your Majesty." Prince Vittorio nods, giving Kristoff a snobbish Roman nose up in the air and thickly growing moustache curl as he waltzes past the blond indignantly and marches into the dining room the King gestures towards.

"Cousin Agdar! I thought I was to be the only representative of my Prussian royal family. At least that's what Arianna gave me the impression of when she begged me for a visit to Arendelle in her place. You know, babies popping out at the most inconvenient time are too much bother. Nobody told me Lady Cassandra had previously arrived, the insufferably domineering little chit. Where did she flit off to anyway? I have not seen her since I charmed her last evening… Perhaps I was a tad too aggressive. Is she not joining us for breakfast?" Already in the dining room, obese Prince Waldemar, King Friedrich's younger, supposedly ladies' man brother had followed the scent of the breakfast fare. Rapunzel's finicky, snooty uncle complains of encountering the Coronan ladies' maid who obviously did not take well to his philandering dalliances here in Arendelle.

The tetchy fat man makes a great effort to rise from the dining room table and tear himself away from the savory ham and egg soufflé that Gerda had masterfully composed in the kitchen at the start of this nonstop all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet for the growing guest list.

"Greetings, Cousin. I must say this is much better than the inedible grub on that wretched ship that got itself wedged in the ice during a fretful blizzard halfway here. Thank goodness the water finally melted enough to let us pass. I was fading away from being famished." The wide-width bachelor bows his greying head and sticks out his sausage dripping greasy hand for the disgusted King to shake.

"We are doing our best to welcome all our visitors, Waldemar." Wishing he was wearing his gloves that the Ice King had trained himself not to need anymore, Agdar smiles at the black sheep of Corona's royal family. When the Norwegian ruler was young and still courting Princess Idun, sister of Prussia's newly married Queen Arianna, he had met Prussian Prince Waldemar on several occasions in the Corona palace.

Agdar wouldn't say he ever enjoyed the company of King Friedrich's brother who had a sweet spot for cakes and drink…and Idun, in that order.

Oh, she's going to love seeing you again, Waldemar. But I suppose it's an even exchange for me having to deal with the charming Chancellor Esteban all evening…

A churlish grin creeps across Agdar's jealous face as he glances in the fuzzy direction of the cool and collected Avaloran Duke who seemed to be in charge of the running of his kingdom. It set Agdar on edge, the way smooth Esteban was directing the breakfast service – and everything else in the castle for that matter – and with Minister Kai at his side, even more than the out of the loop, feeling excluded King.

I suppose Kai realizes I have much more important affairs to deal with today than the daily palace workings. Covering his resentment, Agdar gives his councillor a grateful nod as Kai comes in, fluidly leading the half-blind man to his seat.

The large-set jack-of-all-trades to this kingdom serves his King a plate of the omelette soufflé as if it was a perfectly natural thing to do. The big man makes excuses of inspecting the cutlery to ensure the King had fork at left and knife at right.

Then the bevy of princes, all wishing to craft a winning impression on their prospective future father-in-law, each make some effort to be seated closest to the head of the table to make engaging, intelligent dialogue and conversation with the King.

Of course, the ones believing themselves the more clever of the princes – namely Princes Auguste and Khalid – observed that the special place at the center of the long table setting where a single crocus had been placed on a delicately embroidered lace doily was probably to be reserved for the Queen herself.

The two of them strategically placed themselves in the seating where each felt most advantageous to their benefit - one facing and one beside - where they were certain would be the Queen of Arendelle's dining room seat.

DONG! DONG!

With the visiting men gathered and introduced to the King already in place, the gong Kai now rings for the second time notified that the ladies present in the royal house should, fashionably late, take note to join their counterparts already settled at the breakfast table.

"Good morning." Though unable to clearly recognize the visiting ladies, Agdar rises from his chair to greet each highborn female who entered the dining room. Along with a few older women, several young royal princesses are introduced by Chancellor Esteban. He was quite comfortable in hobnobbing with each fluttering eyed lady, ranging from sprightly girls about Anna's age to older dowagers who always invited themselves to parties.

In a way, the King was envious of the smooth talking South American gentleman who possessed an affability that could charm the spots off a leopard.

"Their Royal Highnesses, Princesses Amber and Sofia of Enchancia."

Prince James gallantly stands to seat each of his sisters after Esteban rattles their esteemed names off.

"James! Let the footmen do it!" Through gritted smiling teeth, Princess Amber berates her brother who never would get the hang of proper royal procedures, even after all these years.

"Princess Valentina of Paraiso." Next, poor Esteban made the big mistake of abbreviating the long-winded styles of the demanding Princess of Brazil. But she would not let him get by without mentioning a few more exceptional adjectives about the ostentatious young woman's ensemble when it was her turn to be introduced next.

"Pardon me, Señorita. I introduce her most exalted, humble, kind and benevolent Royal Crown Princess Valentina Montenez Tores of Paraiso." The patronizing Chancellor corrects himself to introduce the indeed stunning Brazilian Princess in all her pink shimmering grandeur until she was satisfied to be seated at the table.

There were some guffaws from the gentlemanly group who were forced to rise by Valentina's intimidating dark-eyed servant, Manuel, standing just inside the door. He was glaring at them to the show their respect to the entering Princess whom Esteban was reduced to grasping for agreeable titles to please.

"Oh, why are you so late to breakfast, Prince Alonso? In such a disheveled wreck, too. Hardly befitting having a meal with a Royal Princess such as I." Princess Valentina Montenez Tores raises a challenging eyebrow down the table at the Córdoban who thought he had snuck into the dining room unnoticed amid all the busy chatter.

"Eh, ahem – no. Just— cough cough cough – a bit of annoying crumbs caught in my throat. Must be the dry toast." The faking, brown haired Prince chokes out, pointing an overdramatic hand to his clearing throat as quick cover up of his red cheeks that appeared to still have remnants of being slapped hard.

"Oh, poor boy. Here let me help. Luckily for you, Elena and I did a course in life-saving techniques as precaution for her growing brood always getting themselves injured last time I visited Avalor."

Shame those six wondrous children her Captain of the Guard – what was his name – Dave? Trabe? Whatever - gave her made the dear girl lose her hourglass figure at the ripe old age of twenty-seven entirely.

That is never going to happen to me.

Princess Valentina then suddenly – and rather violently for such a picture of a lovely young delicate woman wearing a lacy frilly pink satin and chiffon dress – takes the palm heel of her genteel gloved hand to whack Prince Alonso's back in a punishing upward motion very hard indeed.

Cough! Cough! Cough!

Now the Argentinean was truly hacking up, his breath thoroughly taken away by this intoxicating beauty who was the main reason for his unexpected flight from South America to Europe.

"Oh? It always works on Elena's choking brats—I mean, her darling kittens! Maybe this cold Norwegian climate doesn't agree with you, Alonsy. Shall I have another go at it?" Seeming to have some sadistic grudge against 'Alonsy', Valentina's exotic green eyes flair as she flippantly produces a stylish parasol for greater hitting leverage ability.

"No! I'm fine now. Just need some water." Gulping down a glass of water as he shoots up to his feet, Alonso hurriedly finishes his faked for sympathy coughing with his hands defensively waving at Princess Valentina. He looked more like a caught animal who had been on the bad receiving end of the ill-tempered woman's parasol before.

He fights the urge to rub his still horse-whipped bum from their earlier encounter in the stable.

"I am pleased." Uppity sophisticate Valentina tosses her dark brown curls over her shoulder flippantly, as her eyes gesture towards the vacant seat next to Prince Alonso's right.

That makes the frustrated man run a hand through his own coiffed hair before rolling his eyes with a resigned sigh.

"May I have the honor of your company for breakfast, Princess?" With a smirk on his comely features, Alonso remembers his gentlemanly manner that this persnickety woman insisted upon, after feeling every eye in the struck silent room upon him where you could hear a fork drop for all the sexual tension and elevated drama from the high strung combative South American pair.

"Why, thank you, Sir, I thought you'd never ask. You of all people, Alonsy, should know how I like my breakfast fare. So get to it." She snaps her fingers, never one to avoid being at the center stage of anything. With a sugary sweet voice, diva Princess Valentina now tosses a smile over her flawless shoulder at him which rivaled that of the cat who just ate the canary.

"Umm… Right…" Quite taken aback by the forwardness of the assertive and bold young Brazilian princess in all her frilly pink glory, Agdar shifts in his seat uncomfortably. He had avoided society for the majority of his life. Such familiarity between the two sexes was unheard of in Regency era sensibilities he was raised in and made to adhere to by his strict parents.

Thank goodness our girls – well, at least our Elsa has more decorum than that. The ginger King considers his children proudly as a cordially smiling Elsa and giggling Anna, arm in arm with iced poinsettias woven throughout their hair, enter the dining room with a relaxed birthday atmosphere.

Wearing glittering velvet gowns in blues, Anna's Julebukken embroidered skirt with pom-pom puffs stops short from dancing in with her sparkling glee. Elsa's sapphire dress and filmy cape also pause mid-sweep in, gasping with widened eyes at the awestruck young men who obviously approved of what they saw.

Their mother Idun, if not rested, was ready to celebrate the day after that certain reassuring meeting with the charismatic Frenchman, Ferdinand.

She soon joins her daughters to make their introductions to the honored guests of old friends she invited.

But Idun had no idea there would be so many obviously royal offspring strangers attending.

Agdar Bernadotte, you are the most impossible man! I knew you were planning something! But this?! This is not fair play! It's a good thing your friend Egalite doesn't play by the rules. Idun silently stews, giving her husband a pair of dagger eyes that causes him to gulp down his orange juice guiltily.

"Oh." Elsa's pleased smile freezes in place when the reserved still shy girl is surprised to be confronted by so many new faces all staring at her expectantly.

But luckily for her, spirited little sister Anna was there to fill in the blanks as she gives Elsa's hand a reassuring squeeze and a smile that silently said 'I got this'.

"Good morning, everybody! Wow! Looks like this is going to be a big party! See all the guests who came for your Masquerade Ball, Elsa! We'll have to wrestle up some willing ladies from town to make sure that there are no wallflowers for the dance! You guys'll have to tell me if you prefer blondes, brunettes or gingers! I'll make sure there'll be lots of beautiful girls in costume for each of you." Anna takes a bold step forward and addresses the astounded gentlemen seated around the breakfast table.

"And don't worry, boys. I love to dance, too! My handsome hubby Kristoff here won't mind if I reserve a dance or two on my card for every one of you, so no one will feel left out! Just give me your names so I can jot them all down on the list." Bubbly Anna flashes a big grin to Kristoff, who was doing his best to blend into the indoor shrubbery near the buffet and stay out of this palace intrigue while he was still on the King's good side.

Like a cross between a noisy morning windchime and an out-of-control spinning Christmas top, the un-shy ginger Princess easily whips out her 'dance card' – really it was just the back of her birthday to-do list – and boldly scoots up behind each dumbfounded Prince. Her aggressive pencil and paper were at the ready after a quick and awkward handshake and discomfited name exchange.

"Anna! I'm sure these royal gentleman, who, I may add, traveled some distance in inclement weather to be our guests have come to celebrate the Queen's birthday with us, as friends. They do not need to make reservations for a dance with you or anyone. I believe they and Queen Elsa will appreciate a less formal party experience tonight. It is a Masquerade Ball after all, which is one that should be full of mystery and excitement. We must let the Queen herself decide with whom she wishes to dance with or not, the point being to figure out the anonymity behind the costume façade by the end of the ball's unmasking. Please forgive Princess Anna, Gentlemen, she is merely quite excitable on her sister's birthday." King Agdar both chides and explains away his younger daughter who had embarrassed herself and him in an inhospitable first impression before the mouth-dropped visitors.

But that was the spicy girl's intention, as brassy Princess Anna takes a protective step between her bashful older sister and the gaggle of young men standing before Elsa, ogling her back.

"Of course, Your Majesty. But we are only too pleased to meet both of your fine daughters. Princess Anna is a charming girl indeed whom I will be pleased to share my first dance with. Just so long as her lovely older sister honors me with the next dance on her card, as well." Prince Auguste of Milan was first to accept Anna's dance card and sign his quick signature to it with a gloved hand then extended to Elsa in a respectful bow.

"But were you not listening, Auguste? King Agdar is one hundred percent correct! Dance cards and reservations have absolutely no place at tonight's party. A Masquerade Ball is one full of inscrutability and mystery where strangers may be thrown together under the veil of romance and secrecy. I am looking forward to attending this exhilarating competition myself with vigor, to be the one to unmask the Queen of hearts by the time the clock strikes midnight." Prince Khalid lays the charm offensive on thick as the tan skinned Arabian from Khaldune assertively relieves pushy Prince Auguste of Elsa's much fought-over palm. Khalid makes a sweeping bow of his own flavor as he guides Elsa to her seat at the breakfast table beside him.

"May I say, Queen Elsa, the exquisite beauty of your kingdom is as picturesque as a fairytale. Only comparable to that of the perfectly aesthetic royal family who rules it. I am Prince Vittorio of Sardinia, at your service, my Lady." The platinum blonde Queen turns her face to the young man on other side with the sepia hair and long walrus moustache who introduces himself with a complimentary nod to King Agdar and Queen Idun and a not-so-veiled flirtation to Elsa herself.

'Agdar. Do something.' With fuming eyes, Queen Idun mouths to her silent King who was pretty much the only one in the room who could respectfully interrupt this princely barrage without offending the royal visitors too much.

"Ahem, gentlemen. Please let us not overwhelm the birthday girl all at once. Your company is an unexpected surprise for her. So, I will introduce you each in turn to my daughters and my wife in due time after breakfast is served and we can converse civilly." From the terrified look on Elsa's shocked and mortified face, to Anna's peevish ticked-off one, to finally Idun's furious gaze, the guilty father steps in, looking up apologetically to the birthday girl.

Agdar was beginning to seriously regret his foolish scheme to bring these princes here. But the idea to provide his sheltered naïve girl more romantic choices had been hatching for months after watching his poor child wasting way mooning over that previously dangerous Danish Prince.

But the princes were all here now and King Agdar was unable to stop their introductions even if he wanted to.

"The King is right! Why don't you give the lady some space, guys? Let her breathe a little and have the most important meal of the day before you all jump down her throat. By the way, I'm Prince James of Enchancia. I came with my sisters Amber and Sofia because they love Masquerade Balls. Right, girls?" The affable golden haired Prince wearing his laid-back, soft green princely suit smiles at Elsa and Anna almost brotherly with a look to his own female siblings.

"I've met Princess Elsa and Princess Anna before, James. Remember, I told you about seeing them many years ago in the magic fairytale book I read about the Snow Queen's land. That's when Minimus and I accidentally met Olaf after that evil sorceress put a spell on my Amulet of Avalor." Brown wavy haired, sweet faced Princess Sofia – who had more than her share of enchantment throughout her young lifetime – touches a hand to where her magic amulet used to take her on fabled adventures with a heart full of love and friendship.

"That's right, you're Sofia! I thought that was just a dream! Like when I got kissed by a Troll when I was little! Wow. You're a time traveler through that magic amulet? Too Cool! Tell me all about it!" Anna says, grasping the shoulders of the once little girl who had grown up to be this pretty teenaged Princess now physically visiting their kingdom.

"You always get all the attention wherever we go, Sofia. It's a good thing I never get jealous when nobody notices little ole me, despite my new lace finery." Princess Amber brushes back her coif of golden hair, while straightening her fancy chartreuse dress. Prince James' twin had been trying to gain Queen Elsa's attention, but that was almost impossible with the flurry of princes all trying to make their twitterpated mark.

"I always notice you, Amber." Prince Desmond quietly chirps up in a whisper with a smile on his sheepish round face. He was absolutely unwilling to enter the fray with the other competitive princes, due in part to his natural fear of confrontation.

"Aren't they droll, Alonsy? It's a good thing the Ice Queen wasn't interested in you, or you would have to have pretended to be more jealous." Princess Valentina, jealous herself, makes the nasty dig to which Prince Alonso tries his best not to show any reaction as he continues to slice his sausages in tiny little pieces with a knife.

King Agdar stands with Kai's help to serve the breakfast entrées to his wife's plate and that of his unattended daughter –

"Do allow me the honor, your Majesty!"

"I will serve the Queen her scrambled eggs!"

"No! She obviously wants the omelette!"

"Would you like ham or sausage with that, Queen Elsa?"

"I've got this! Sweet strawberry jam or savory melted butter on your toast? Or both? I prefer both myself."

"Tea with one lump or two, m'lady?"

In a feeding frenzy, the six princes (minus veteran rejected suitor Alonso who merely rolls his eyes) nearly trip over one another in their comical attempt to gain a flabbergasted Elsa's attention, approval and affection at first sight by waiting on the birthday girl hand and foot, as it were.

But bull in a china shop, clumsy Princess Anna and her new, eager friend Princess Sofia manage to tagteam intercept the clamoring boys nearly every time until a fawned over Elsa was left quite dizzy.

Anna happily secured the crispiest pieces of bacon for her demure older sibling as she fights her way through the busy, bustling buffet table while Kristoff silently holds her filling plate for her.

"Oops – sorry – It's yummy, but watch out for the saturated fat in that whole hog sausage, Tubby! I've heard hashbrowns are bad for fair complexions! Dropping salt is major bad luck around here, Mister!" On the suitor warpath, Anna rudely elbows and insults her way through the breakfast nook to Idun's delight as the Queen Mother was calmly squirreling away foodstuffs in her muffler's napkin-lined pocket folds for a hiding-out Ferdinand.

"Idun, your daughter." The King conceals his own amusement at his younger girl's obvious protective offense as he leans in to whisper to his wife to bring Anna in tow.

"Yes she is, Agdar. I couldn't be prouder of her." Contradicting her husband, Idun snarks back. Then she snitches the other half of the strawberry jellied piece of toast from her mate's plate to transfer to her own.

"I see you're hungry this morning, my love. That's good." Agdar smiles wryly, trying his best to ignore Anna's social faux pas and smooth over his beloved petite wife's irritated crispness. After all, Idun had already finished the contents of her overfilled plate and was starting to scarf off his.

"I'm eating for two now, dear. Sorry if that interferes with your plans, Your Majesty." The obviously chagrined Queen mother answers her husband, cattily cold. She raises an eyebrow with angry pursed lips, knowing that would get a rise out of her stoic, mulish man who deserved a kick in the pants about now for orchestrating this fiasco.

"W-wh-what?!" Agdar's cloudly eyes bulge back at her as his tense reflexes accidentally knock over a carafe of fresh coffee Kai was just placing on the table.

The Ice Queen instantly ices the hot java covered table in all the ensuing mess before it causes too much damage to burn her father or any of the guests. But as she displayed her cryo-powers in frosting the dripping hot tablecloth before the suddenly silent, gaping, gasping guests, Elsa was suddenly feeling claustrophobically trapped between all the visiting princes fighting over her.

So the distressed, thoroughly embarrassed young woman, with all eyes upon her and her amazing abilities, abruptly jumps up from the breakfast table with glistening eyes over to her mother for help.

"Excuse us." Distraught for her upset daughter as she awards her obtuse husband with a livid stare, Mama Idun throws all protocol to the wind and stands from her seat to claim a shivering cold Elsa's trembling hand.

"We have a costume fitting to attend to." Shooting Agdar a parting, vexed gaze, Queen Idun makes the flimsy excuse to leave the room with her tall, platinum blonde child in tow.

Her mother knew the timid girl did not like confrontation with strangers, nor performing her ice magic before inquisitive eyes, nor speaking with men in general at that.

"Ooh! Sometimes your father can be so pigheaded and insensitive, min flicka. I just wanted to give you one perfect birthday. But we ruined it…again, haven't we?" Idun vents her wrath on the poor slammed door of the conservatory and plunks down on the piano bench to start ferociously playing an intense melody full of angry passion and verve called 'Der Erlkönig, opus 26' by Schubert.

"No, it's alright, Mama. I know you both love me and Papa means well wanting to introduce me to new people." Wiping back her tears, Elsa could hear echoes of her own recriminations for Anna's 'ruined' special birthday she herself had high plans for two years ago in her Mama's sincere regrets. "And he's right. If I am to be a good leader, I must learn to be able to easily deal with other countries' representatives at social occasions such as this, and without hesitation." Never seeing her loving parents quarrel before, Elsa tries to steady her aggravated mother who was usually the unruffled, serene one in the family. In a reversal of roles, the younger Queen causes her steaming maternal parent to calm down enough to shift her piano music to the composer's more soothing 'Licht and Liebe'.

"You are a good leader already, my darling girl. And you don't need those swooning young men to tell you that." Queen Idun assures in between chords she starts to hum tender words to the moving 'Love and Light' Schubert melody with lyrics by von Collins.

'Liebe ist ein süßes Licht. Wie die Erde strebt zur sonne,Un zu jenen hellen sternen, In den weiten blauen fernen, Strebt das herz nach Liebeswonne; den sie ist ein süßes Licht…' ('Love is a sweet light. As the earth aspires to the sun, and to those bright stars, in the far blue distant, the heart aspires to love's bliss; which is a sweet light…')"

"It's just...it's my birthday and I'm being a little selfish. I don't like to see you and Papa quarreling, but I don't look forward to the idea of spending my whole party with a throng of foreign princes all desperately sparring over me like I am some side of prized beef. "

sigh That's me, 'Elsie, the cow'. Oh Hans, where are you? I need you here now more than ever. You promised to be here for my birthday…

"Did I just call myself a cow?" Elsa ponders aloud incredulously, causing both hot and bothered women to find some humored serenity in mutual laughter. But then reality sets in once again.

"Oh, Mama. Why can't Papa understand that I trust Hans? That I will only love Prince Hans? No one could ever take his place…" Whispering to her growing increasingly uptight self, a chilled Elsa closes her tired eyes and slumps against the sofa in the Conservatory.

Knowing when to keep her own counsel of her thoughts on the tender matter, Idun simply smiles and continues to play in soft pianissimo for her anxious child's calming benefit—and her own as well as she thinks about woman's inscrutable mystery called 'love' and their trying partner in it called 'men', and how God created both to test and fulfill each other all the days of their lives.

"You just sit back on your favorite divan and relax your cares away for a while in this peaceful setting with Mama, min spadbarns. As you let the music of love sweep you away to a world of wonder and beauty, show me again that gorgeous costume you will wear tonight for the party, so we can get you ready." Idun prods Elsa to let her worries go and instead look forward to the night full of promise by displaying her vivid imagination's 14th century Princess gown of the fabled Sleeping Beauty fair in her lovely violet purple hues made of ice.

"Oh, yes, indeed. You will be the belle of your Masquerade Ball in that, my darling. I ask you to not fear or dread or overthink it, my beautiful girl - for you have proven you are strong. Rather revel in every second of it, Elsa. Let those young men doubtlessly preen and fawn and flatter and imagine they are charming and suave as they all flock to you, like foolish fireflies to an irrepressible, attractive flame. Enjoy it, don't fear it, my sweet 'Princess Aurora.' The light of true love will shine through like a beacon, overcoming all obstacles in the end of every fairytale – even stubborn Papas, if you dare to believe." Wise in matters of the heart, Queen Idun caresses Elsa's wet cheeks dry, harmonizing tranquility with her hymn. The loving Queen mother feels Elsa was ready and she herself able to finally assuage her daughter's qualms and uncertainties, as she should have done long ago.

"So, for now, rest here quietly, knowing everything will turn out right, my child. A little French birdie told me so." Elsa's petite Mother places a coy finger over her smiling lips in an encouragingly enigmatic shushing gesture that sends Elsa's cool heart thumping warm and strong. "Promise Mama you'll rest 'til then, Birthday Girl, anticipating tonight's promise, while I watch over that no one bothers you here until you feel you're ready to join the festivities your sister and I will be preparing out there.

"'Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands, robed in the blooming garb of spring: Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer, He Who makes the woeful heart to sing.' " In a murmured hymn now, Idun kneels down to rest her head on the divan's velvet pillow beside her daughter's weary one, to pet Elsa's creased brow soft and smooth again, just like when she was a wee little girl.

"Take your time and don't you worry your pretty little head about a thing, Elsa. Remember, 'the best things come to those who wait.'" With a sweet, patient kiss to Elsa's normalized temperate forehead, the motherly Queen collects herself to leave the peacefully tranquil Conservatory.

With a nod and wave farewell, Elsa leans back and starts to drift to sleep on the gold leaf corded blue velvet settee to the relaxing music her Mama had been playing and singing in that magically healing soprano still reverberating in her bestilled mind.

Even through all the mental distress, the recent trial and dangers, all the expectations and denials replaying in the depths of her heart, Queen Elsa was still a young woman. And this was her birthday. So Elsa was absolutely certain her dashing Prince of the Southern Isles would keep to his pledge that he would return to Arendelle to attend her celebration, no matter what, and fulfill his promise of true love, just as her Mama said.

As she drifts to sleep, the past memory of the first nickname that the redheaded Prince called her when he was a mere cabin boy in the pirate ship's galley what seemed ages forever ago fills her dreams. Just the intimate thought of having her handsome prince that close gives the exhausted Ice Queen a small lilting smile.

Silently humming a tune that seemed to faintly glimmer an aurora borealis on her icy fairytale gown, Elsa of Arendelle starts to doze under the warming noontime sun streaming through the window, dreaming of her true love, knowing she would wait forever for her one and only Prince Hans.

'I'm waiting for my prince
The one who's meant for me
My dreams can't all be wrong
I know he'll come along
As handsome as can be

And though he's very late
He's more than just my fate
So I'm waiting for my prince

Hmm, hmm, hmm, mmmm, mmm, mmm…'

By 2 o'clock afternoon's early sunset and dusk on this polar winter time of year, Svala had returned to Arendelle's bustling courtyard.

Prince Hans and Varian had spent the morning using their doctoring know-how for the health and safety of dozens of the kingdom's ailing and elderly as well as small children in the countryside, who had been trapped for weeks without food or medical supplies.

As the afternoon wore on, Lady Cassandra had convinced – more like ordered – Prince Hans to disembark with Svala back to Arendelle.

"It's your girlfriend's big ballroom birthday party tonight. I'm pretty sure she wants to see you personally around a little more than these farmers. They're all fit as a fiddle now thanks to you two! Varian and I will see to picking up any stragglers who want to come to the Masquerade on Carpet here. You go make yourself presentable for that Queen of yours, Dr. Hero." Cassandra had pulled no punches when it came to laying down the law to this younger, more attractive brother of Fitzherbert's.

Prince or no, men often needed ordering around.

Hans felt his older brother's influence and Princess Rapunzel's kind heart through this tough lady Cassandra whom the Prince of the Southern Isles had immense respect for on the battlefield and now on the medical outpatient field as well.

So Hans had reluctantly waved farewell to the lip biting inventor boy he had befriended on the trip here. Hans clearly could see that his young friend was still nervous after the brotherly chat and advice the pair of lovestruck young men had discussed on the journey here.

Now Varian had Cassandra's attention to himself between airlift rides where they were finally spending some quiet, one on one time together. If ever there was a chance to fully confess one's heart and serious intentions, this was the moment for Varian Gutenberg.

And Hans Westergaard felt that same sentiment was coming soon for him, as well.

Flying Svala the reindeer stealthily across the Arendelle skyline in the waning hours of daylight which soon would turn twilight, Hans puts his courage to the sticking point. The dutiful officer of the Sjoforsvaret realized he must report to his senior officer before he did anything else, even before meeting with his fiancée.

And that meant the second-in-command of the Norwegian Navy had to first beg audience with the Admiral… gulp… King Agdar, also known as Elsa's father, who had restricted their correspondence, never mind this premature reunion.

Hans had been informed by Ms. Schmidt that Egalitè was fairly sure, luckily for the Dane, that King Agdar had no idea in his blindness and subsequent chaotic circumstances during the battle with the Devil King Troll, that his conscientiousness Vise Admiral, whom he had specifically placed as Kommander of his new flagship Nidaros – had abandoned his post.

It would be just as easy for Hans to return the HmNos Nidaros, with the Admiral none the wiser of his subordinate's disobedience, albeit unintentional, at no fault of Hans' own.

But in order to fulfill another promise – one more pressing and precious to the true ruler of his heart – the handsome Danish Prince may just have to flagrantly disregard that good fortune.

So sleek Svala silently slinks through the early falling dusk to make a soft landing nearby the Arendelle stables.

Once he had secured her in the first vacant stall he could locate, Hans gives Svala a quick brush down of her sweaty coat, providing the reindeer doe with water and a grateful smile. Then the curious redhead looks around the stable, marveling at the number of horses gathered there.

This appears to be certainly a memorable night for you, min kæreste (my dearest). After I speak to the Admiral, I will seize this moment and not let it slip us by again, my darling Elsa. We'll make it an unforgettable night to remember!

Hans allows himself this determined thought for his Elsa as he pauses his purposeful stride back out through the overfilled equestrian housing of Arendelle's stable to afford a loving pet to the familiar coat of his golden dun horse named Sitron.

The fjord horse's striking black and white mane disparately stood out for Hans to notice in the field of whites, chestnuts, blacks, grays, pintos and every shade in between of the stallions and mares either resting or pacing impatiently in their visiting stall accommodations.

"I am going in to speak to the King about my request, right now. Wish me luck, Sitron." After one last comforting nuzzle to his steed's long nose and moist muzzle, the Danish Prince announces his frightening intention in what he thought the unattended stable area.

"Audentes fortuna iuvat. Fortune favors the bold, mon ami." A voice echoes down from somewhere above the tall ceiling into the equestrian enclosure.

Hans glances around in the disorienting stable full of noisy, pent-up animals to try to locate the thick accented French voice and its entering phrase salvo.

"Or perhaps it is better for me to say that Lady Luck, she favors the cunning and clever more." The enigmatic voice is soon joined by a tight suited red and black shadow adorned with a bejeweled black, three-quarter covered mask.

"Egalité?" Hans whispers incredulously, his automatically drawn sword returning to its sheath as he recognizes his French friend's presence, albeit strangely attired.

"Viva la France, Monsieur Westergaard." The Harlequin, in all of his crimson and ebony checkered glory, gives a white frilly collar sweeping bow to the astonished redhead.

"Why the devil are you wearing a costume already? Surely the Masquerade Ball is later this evening." With a chuckle, Hans looks his well decked out comrade up and down, never shocked by the French Legionnaire's brash ostentatious style to be publicly in such a formfitting, eye-catching red and black alternating diamond display.

"Some of us, mon ami, are prepared for an incredival party night, while others are more than fashionably late. What have you been doing traipsing around Arendelle all afternoon, man? It is fortunate for you, that I, as your devoted friend, mon frère, have already not only chosen a stunning ensemble in which you will doubtlessly dazzle your audience in complement with your beauteous fiancée, but it is one the Queen Mother herself, may I say, quite tastefully highly approves of. The intelligent lady Queen and I have worked out the details of our cunning plan to maintain your anonymity from my good friend King Agdar. All accomplished while keeping your promise to la belle Elsa for a birthday night full of daring mystery and romance spent together." The long-winded Crown Prince of the French had begun to explain his bold scheme to his flabbergasted Danish fellow Royal when a clatter of pails from a nearby stall is knocked over abruptly.

Prince Alonso steps out from where he had been catching his breath in a little nap.

After all, when the quickly adjourned post-breakfasters went outdoors, he and Princess Valentina were playing cat and mouse in a sideline skirmish while most of the other princes were showing off their skeet shooting skills to the King.

Trying to avoid the spirited Brazilian was rather tiring for the normally lazy young man.

"… Were you… perhaps, hiding… in there, Monsieur, from that vivacious, delicate Paraiso Madamoiselle of yours?" Ferdinand did not even disguise his mirth at the idea of a grown man taking shelter from his lady's advances, more than the other way around as nature designed the merry hunt to be.

"Believe me. Romance is not all the poetry and flowers you Frenchmen stack it up to be. With Valentina, it's more of a hard-core wrestling match! Ouch. I'm going to have scars from the body blows she landed on me today just so she could pretend she doesn't find me irresistible anymore. But I suppose it's all par for the course, because yours truly is so gorgeously astounding that all the eligible ladies are drooling over having the chance to dance with me at the ball tonight. Birthday girl gets first dibs on this perfect body in motion. By the way, nice threads." Pointing at his own sleek and slender dancing form that busts a move on the hay strewn floor, a smirking, eyebrow raising Prince Alonso then lets out a big yawn right in Hans' own 'gorgeously astounding' profile.

That careless act in an unspoken challenge causes the harried Southern Isles Prince to finally let loose with a small humored smirk curling Hans' lips towards his once imaginary rival.

"Maybe women are more honest than we give them credit for and they're just trying to whip self-centered, arrogant annoyances into shape out of pity, not attraction." Hans delivers the sharp side of his tongue to Alonso whose eyes pop open wide at ever being so verbally challenged.

"Ha ha. Touché, mon frère. This is very entertaining!" Prince Ferdinand leans back on the stall to listen to the macho rivalry between men over females who were not even present to appreciate it. Ferdinand always made sure in his past that any aggressive words which could cause a duel or violence were not wasted without the proper feminine audience.

"Well, at least if I ever did get snagged into a contract of marriage with a lady, I would hardly expect my future father-in-law to still be auctioning off my supposed betrothed with every Prince James, Auguste and Khalid he personally invited to her party. But don't worry, she'll realize she missed a real catch in me after she compares my excellent personality and charm to the lot of those more suitable suitors to her current fiancé. And, not to mention, I've never been a disgraced, disowned former princeling who tried to murder her!" Right after the angry, vicious statement came out of his mouth, Alonso looked as if he already regretted saying it from the wounded expression that comes across Hans' comely face before the anger flashes his freckled pale complexion as red as his hair.

"...Grr! How dare you! My Elsa would never betray me for the likes of a conceited, self-aggrandizing, bird-brain twit who has to look in the mirror ten times a day to make sure his head's still on!" Moving so fast no one saw it coming, with a growl, jealous Hans then instinctively lashes out at Alonso with insults flying as fast as his fists. Grabbing the smug Cordoban Prince by the collar, an infuriated Hans thrashes him back against Sitron's stall door so hard the fjord stallion within cowers back away, never seeing his childhood best friend and master react in such an infuriated state.

"Whoa whoa whoa, mon ami! Those are fighting words, mon frère! I think it would be for the best if you two civilized gentlemen both take a few moments to calm down." Egalité hardly expected this spontaneous reaction from his up to this point otherwise ever calm and composed friend. But something about the irreverent Argentinean and his biting words obviously set Prince Hans' jealousy over the edge.

"What's going on in here, Hans? These guys bothering you?" Just then, armed with a quick produced mini flame throwing automaton in the palm of his hand, Varian the inventor boy comes wandering into the stables in search of his friend. He had left Cassandra with the shared Magic Flying Carpet delivering the last of the passengers they had brought in for the party to Princess Anna and Gerda and Johanne's care at the side door.

"No, Varian. I was just leaving to submit to my commanding officer." Spoken quietly in a frightening grumble through gritted teeth, Hans calms himself and lets go of Alonso's collar and dusts himself off as he turns to make for the stable exit that led into the Castle.

"Do not leave yet, mon ami Hans! To meet the Admiral in such a state without hearing my plan out would be catastrophic. Please follow me upstairs and I will explain everything wise Queen Idun and I have discussed to aid you." Ferdinand motions towards his studio above the stable where the Queen Mother had situated he and his costuming proposal. "You see, you are both refined, polished gentlemen who have nerves just a wee bit on edge due to each's own current romantic tribulations. That misunderstanding merely got a little out of hand, nes'cest pas (am I not right), Prince Hans, Prince Alonso? Can we not agree to be comrades in this ultimate risk of life called 'love' you are both gallant knights thereof? You, too, appear to be a young man of tender heart, mon ami. Let us all bond together in fraternite to accomplish much by way of moving the hearts of the remarkable women we adore tonight." The nonplussed, well spoken, winsome Frenchman massages Alonso's bruised arm as he blocks Hans' exit with a pleading hand while giving Varian a disarming smile that makes the dark-haired scientist put away his weapon.

"Merci beaucoup (thank you very much) for joining us, Vari-an. Any friend of my good frère Hans is a friend of mine. I am Prince Ferdinand Egalité." The tall, brown haired Prince of the French removes his black mask to welcome the newcomer to the little group he was leading up to his stable loft workshop.

"You're the guy that Cassandra was talking about…" Varian's big blue eyes slit as he had subliminally sensed some degree of attraction when Rapunzel"s ladies' maid mentioned this morning about her and Hans' mutual new 'friend'.

And the guy looked like a perverted weirdo in that red and black clownish bodysuit.

"Oh? Mon chere Cassie spoke fondly of me? I am so pleased we have made so many cherished memories in such a short time of intimacy." Worldly Ferdinand Egalité smiles down at the shorter male in his teasing way that rubs Varian the wrong way causing the inventor to pull out his automaton again as Rudiger the raccoon scampers under Ferdinand's surprised feet.

"It is good we have some time before the party begins. Because it appears we are going to have to address some anger management issues, all around, mes ami (my friends), before there is bloodshed on the dance floor tonight. Le Seigneur Dieu (the Lord God) knows we will need all His largesse to make it through this birthday evening…"

I shutter to think of the consequences of you encountering those suitors en masse, mon ami…Having a feeling an apparently jealously volatile Hans would live up to his fiery 'redhead' for once, in respect to reacting extremely badly to the mere idea of rival suitors for Elsa's hand, let alone actually be in the same room with them, Prince Ferdinand raises his eyes to Heaven for support.

What must you think about that, Helene?

Sparing an incredulous thought to his own betrothed safely back home, Ferdinand never imagined in all his days that his revolutionairre rebel self would be the calm voice of reason in this combative crowd of lovestruck young men gathering up the ladder into his secret costumers' loft.

Min flicka- my girl in Swedish

"Fairest Lord Jesus" ('Schönster Herr Jesu') - from the 17th century "Munster Gesangbuch" in the "Schleische Volkslieder" is a Silesian folk song from 1677 that the movie 'Frozen' featured as being sung in Saami in the opening credits and during Elsa's coronation in the background.

"Liebe und Licht" – Franz Schubert piece from lyricist Matthäus von Collin's play 'Der Tod Friedrichs des Streitbaren' 1816

Hello Frozen Again friends!

Hope you enjoyed part 2 of Elsa's birthday celebration! We encountered several of the suitor princes from all around the world kingdoms that Papa Agdar invited for Elsa's birthday party! Several of them were featured in their younger days as friends of the kingdom of Enchancia from 'Sofia the First". By my 'Elena of Avalor' time calculations, they would be just about the right age to be Elsa's princely equivalents, so why not add some familiar Disney junior faces to the Frozen Again story fun?

Whew! Poor Elsa has been bombarded with thrills and chills galore this episode! Good thing Mama Idun has some sage advice for her anxious birthday girl, bailing her out of that sticky breakfast situation before any accidents. With our madly in love Elsa dreaming of 'Waiting for her Prince' in true Sleeping Beauty style, Hans had better to be ready to spar with these plentiful, charming and eligible royal rivals at the Masquerade Ball when he finally arrives! Our handsome Red's appearance is sure to be the ice-ing on the Ice Queen's cake!

That is if he survives the jealous quartet of young men plotting in the Arendelle stables under Ferdinand Egalite's scheming Harlequin lead! Viva la France! Yeah! World Cup victors! Hans and Alonsy sure had a drag-out, knock-down verbal sparring, didn't they! Neither prince minces words when angered! Frayed nerves and raw jealousy abounds at this relationship pivotal party!

One more Masquerade night episode to go for this birthday extravaganza! So hang on tight for all the fairytale romance, costume mystery and dancing excitement to come, Frozen fans!

See you soon with the exciting, game-changing conclusion!

God bless you all,

HarukaKou

19 days to my birthday!