Whelp. The beginning of the Olaf/Zara scene was going on waaaaay too long. 8D Having too much fun with Owen and Zach. And then wanted to add in something. So... adding a chapter. 8D

Beware the Frozen Heart
Chapter 8: Keep Going

Echo had finally managed to wriggle herself free. She pranced over to Owen, bumping Blue out of the way as she did so. Blue snorted and snapped at her youngest sister. But Echo paid her no mind. She bent her head down and nudged Owen's shoulder gently. Owen lifted his arm and turned his eyes on her to glare at her. "Of course I don't want to help him anymore!" He snapped. "Helping him has soured me against ever helping anyone ever again!"

Blue snorted loudly and shook her head, like she was rolling her eyes at him. Owen glared at her as he sat up again. "What? You saying I'm a nice guy or something?" Echo nodded her head. "What... if I leave him alone, the King might get himself killed?" Echo nodded her head again and Blue let out an amused sounding snort. "I could live with that." He glanced over at Zach's retreating form. No, of course he couldn't. He glanced back at Echo and she was suddenly in his face. And then she licked him.

"Oh! Gross, Echo!" Owen glared at her again and pushed her away. "I hate you." Blue snorted and bumped into her sister affectionately. "I hate you, too." He scrambled up and waved. "Wait." He called out loudly.

Zach stopped and turned around.

"We're coming, too."

Zach smiled and breathed out a sigh of relief. "Great! Uh... yes! Very good!" Echo raced towards him and he reached out to stroke her muzzle when she got closer.

Owen rolled his eyes as he walked over to Charlie and Delta. He quickly unhooked them from each other. He waved the three to follow as he trudged up to join Zach and Echo. "You can ride on Charlie..." Owen started to say. But Echo snorted loudly and shook her head. She bumped her nose into Zach's shoulder and rubbed against him.

"Uh..." Zach said, reaching up to scratch her ears. "You want me to ride you?" He asked the reindeer and she nodded her here.

Owen let out a sigh and shook his head. "Echo, you have to behave!"

Zach let out a laugh as he pulled himself up onto the reindeer's back. "She's fine. My horse Rexy, she's huge. And spirited."

"Spirited doesn't even begin to describe Echo." Owen said, shaking his head. He turned and mounted Blue. "Okay, let's go. Stick close together and go slowly." But Echo had other plans. She darted forward, then to the side. She was wiggling and shimmying and practically dancing up the side of the mountain as they went. Zach laughed and that only seemed to spur the reindeer on. They didn't get very far before Owen snapped. "Stop!" He slid off Blue and marched over to Echo. "I said walk!" He wagged his finger at her. "Zach is riding Charlie now!"

Zach slid off Echo and climbed on Charlie's back. Owen tied a rope around Echo's neck and latched her to Delta. And they started up the mountain again. And Zach had to admit to himself, it was much easier riding the calm reindeer. They kept at it for the rest of the night. Climbing higher and higher up the mountain. They had no more run-ins with wolves and Zach was grateful for it.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Meanwhile, back in Jurendelle, the people hadn't been prepared for the second winter. Summer had just started. People were expecting the hot weather and sunshine. And it was colder than Gray had ever remembered in his short life. Way too cold for anyone. He pulled back on the reins, slowing his horse to a stop. "Easy, Moe." He said, patting her neck. He'd been out, riding along the frozen fjord, making sure no one was stuck in one of the ships or that someone hadn't ventured out for any reason.

The sound of hoof beats clattering closer broke the silence of the night. Gray turned and squinted and could just make out his brother's horse. He breathed out a sigh of relief. But it was short lived. As Rexy got closer, Gray noticed she was alone.

Gray slid from Moe's back and stepped into the panicked horse's path. He held up his hands. "Rexy!" He called out. "Here, Rexy." He grabbed her reins as she tried to run past. "Hey Rexy, easy, girl." He pulled back on the reins and she slowed to a stop. She turned her head towards him and blinked her dark eyes. "Shhhh." Gray cooed at her and she finally seemed to recognize him and settle down. He walked around her, running his hand along her flank. But he could see no sign of injury or anything.

Gray tugged the slowly calming horse towards his own. He pulled himself up into Moe's saddle. He looked up at the mountain and sighed. Zach was still up there. Now alone and without his horse. That wasn't good. He pulled on Moe's reins, turning her back towards the kingdom. "Come on."

Gray hurried back to the castle with the horses. He didn't know what to do. He was only 12. He wasn't old enough to do anything! But he had to do something! He had to help! He had to go after his brother. He left the horses to the care of the guards and walked inside the castle. He needed to tell someone where he was going. He searched the room quickly and found the neighboring King. He approached the man quickly and explained.

"Something happened." Gray said loudly. "Zach could be injured! I have to go after him!"

King Hoskins shook his head. "No, no, Prince. Let me send my men." He turned and pointed at his two body guards. The men stepped forward. "They can go and check on the King."

Gray bit his lip and looked away. He knew that made more sense. He was too young. He knew that. And he was all the Kingdom had left. If something happened to...

"You are all Jurendelle has left now." Hoskins continued on, as if reading the young prince's thoughts. "If you go and something happens to you..." The King's eyes widened. He turned slightly, trying to hide his smile. "But... if you insist on going, then you should go. I can send my men to accompany you..."

Gray sighed as he looked at the floor, obvious to the King's sudden change in demeanor. "You're right." He said softly. "I shouldn't go."

The neighboring King visibly deflated. But he nodded and turned to his guards. "You will head up to the North Mountain. Look for any trace of the King."

Gray looked up at them. "And Aunt Claire." He added.

Hoskins nodded quickly. "Yes. We must bring them both home."

Gray smiled and nodded. "Thank you!" He turned. "I'll have horses readied for them."

Hoskins waited until the young prince was out of earshot. Then he stepped closer to his men. "I'll take care of the prince. You two make sure the King and Queen never come back."

The men smiled and nodded.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

The sun was just starting to rise when Zach suppressed a yawn. He'd been up now for nearly 24 hours. And he hadn't exactly slept well the night before, not with his Coronation... he jerked up straight and Charlie stopped automatically. The reindeer turned, looking around in alarm. "Shit!" Zach snapped, reaching up to run a hand through his hair.

Blue turned around quickly and Owen looked at him. "What?"

Zach sighed. "I dropped my crown."

Owen blinked at him for a moment. "Yeah... probably when that wolf pulled you off the sleigh."

"Maybe." Zach said softly.

Owen tilted his head and continued. "Or maybe when you were rolling around in the snow, all tangled and being drug by the sleigh."

Zach rolled his eyes as he slipped from Charlie's back. He bent backwards a bit, stretching out his spine. He was pretty sore from riding all night.

Owen slipped off Blue and stepped closer to Zach, smiling. "Or maybe when we jumped the gorge. Or when you lit the torch and smacked that wolf."

Zach shook his head. "I get it."

Owen stopped just beside him. "Or when you saved my life." He said softly. "I didn't thank you for that."

Zach looked up at Owen. Those intense and pretty eyes staring at him. He looked away quickly and felt his face heat up. He was glad he was already red from the cold. "You uh... saved me first." He mumbled awkwardly.

Owen smiled and nodded his head. "Yeah, yeah I did. But I'm sorry you lost it. We can go back later and look for it."

Zach nodded. "Thanks." His first day as King and he'd mucked everything up. He turned slightly and looked down. They were so high up, he could see all of Jurendelle below them, and the fjords. It was still frozen. The whole place, and looked like the ice stretched pretty far out to sea. He couldn't believe his aunt had kept this much power a secret.

Owen let out a gasp as he stood beside Zach and looked down. "It's completely frozen." He said, shaking his head.

"It'll be fine." Zach said. "Claire... she'll thaw it."

Owen looked at him sideways. "You're so sure she will."

Zach looked at him and nodded. "I am."

Owen stared at Zach for a moment. He was smiling and it made Zach squirm and look away. But Owen just let out a laugh. "Come on, then. We better get up the mountain fast."

Zach nodded his head quickly. "Uh yeah. We uh... almost there?"

Owen let out a laugh again as he pointed, nearly straight up in the air. "There." He said. Seemingly jutting out of the clouds stood a very tall peak. "That's the top."

Zach's eyes widened. "Damn."

"Yep."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Author's Notes: ZARA IS NEXT! I AM SO EXCITED! Really excited. XD The Olaf character went through soooo many auditions in my head before I settled on Zara. Gray was one. And Echo, too. XD And Rexy, too. I think I even considered Wu for a second, as a more sullen Olaf. XD