Lee and Miller are now the names of Hoskins' henchmen. Lee has blonde hair and Miller has brown. This is a note for myself so I can keep scrolling up and reminding myself. Also Wu's bodyguard dude is Hamada. Named after soldiers that get eaten and killed by Ida in the movie. Because everyone deserves a name, right? Even if they didn't in Frozen. Did they even really talk in Frozen? I will have to check. 8D Anyways... let's see if Ida eats them in this story! 8D

Beware the Frozen Heart
Chapter 12: Trail

King Hoskins men left as soon as a couple of horses were prepared for them. They tracked the King's movements up the mountain. They found where it looked like he fell from his horse and the horse took off. And then where the kid walked up a small hill. And then fell down it. The men slipped from their horses' back and stepped forward slowly, looking down the embankment.

The blonde man laughed as he shook his head and pointed. "Look, Miller. He fell down. What a klutz."

The man dubbed Miller snorted and shook his head. "Looks steep." The other man shook his head and started forward. And then slipped himself and nearly tumbled down. Miller lunged forward and grabbed his accomplice. He helped the man right himself and shook his head. "This isn't a game, Lee. We have a job to do."

Lee quickly shoved him off. Then grabbed the reins of his horse and started down the hill. They moved down the steep embankment slowly, guiding the horses as they went. A misstep and a sprained or broken leg wouldn't help them. They reached the bottom without further incident and spotted the small shack with the billowing smoke. They headed towards it.

"Wu's Trading Post." Miller said, reading the sign.

"And sauna."

"Looks like he went inside." Miller inclined his head towards the door. Lee nodded and grabbed the reins from Miller's hand. He moved to tie the horses to the wood railing as Miller stepped up on the porch. The two men walked inside.

"Welcome." The man behind the counter looked up, smiling wide. "Big summer blow out."

Miller held up his hand. "No, thank you. We're not here to shop."

Wu's smile fell and he pointed to the door behind them. "Door."

Miller stepped closer to the counter, Lee just behind him. "We're been sent to find the King."

"The King?" Wu repeated.

The men both nodded. "Has he been by?" Lee asked.

Wu studied them for a long moment. "Why?"

"Why?" Miller repeated.

Wu nodded. "Yes. Why are you looking for him? You're not of Jurendelle, are you?"

"Uh..." Lee stuttered.

"We came for the coronation." Miller replied. "But the young Prince Gray asked us to find his brother."

"The prince." Wu repeated.

Miller nodded his head. "The King's horse returned home without him very early this morning. His brother wanted to go after him himself when we volunteered."

Lee shook his head. "The treacherous mountain is no place for a kid."

"How unfortunate. And how noble of you." Wu mused. "I do hope the young King is alright."

"As do we." Miller said with a nod.

"Have you seen him or not?" Lee asked.

Wu paused for a moment. Then he nodded. "Yes. He stopped by last night."

Miller stepped closer to the desk and leaned forward slightly. "When?"

Wu leaned back slightly on his stool. "Just before nightfall." He finally answered. "He left with the mountain man."

"The mountain man?" The two men repeated together. Then they glanced at each other for a moment.

Wu nodded, his mouth slowly curling into a smile. "Yes. Large, scary man." He said. "Who lives alone in the mountain and talks to reindeer."

"Reindeer?"

Wu nodded again. "Yes. His savage beasts. A whole team of them. They do his bidding. Whatever he asks."

"And the King went with him?" Lee asked slowly.

"Willingly?"

Wu shrugged. "I'm not exactly sure. I just know they rode away together in the mountain man's sleigh. I saw him pulling the King into his sleigh."

"Which way?"

"Up the North Mountain." Wu answered.

"Thank you." Miller said with a nod and turned around. Lee followed.

Wu leaned forward on his counter. "Have you ever been up the North Mountain?"

The men paused at the door and Miller turned to answer him. "No. We have not."

"You could get lost." Wu said flippantly. "Without a proper guide."

Miller shook his head. "We'll be fine." They opened the door and slipped out.

Wu's fake smile fell and he narrowed his eyes. Something about these two men seemed very off. He has his doubts about their real intentions. But he certainly wasn't going to do anything about it. Well not himself directly. He stood up and walked over to the window. He watched as the two unknown men rode off. Then Wu turned and called out. "Hamada."

The large dark haired body guard walked out. "Yes, sir?"

Wu pointed towards the window. "Did you see those two?"

Hamada nodded his head. "Heard everything."

Wu nodded. "Good. Follow them. I don't trust them."

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

Lee and Miller followed the sled tracks in the snow easily. It was hard to tell how many reindeer this odd mountain man had with him. But it looked like way more than two by the tracks. They slowed as the trees got thicker. It was amazing this mountain guy was able to drive a sleigh through all these trees.

"We won't catch up to them at this rate." Lee grumbled out.

Miller glanced over at him. "We'll catch them eventually."

"Now!" Lee snapped. "I'd like to be done with this now."

"Why?" Miller watched his cohort for a moment. "Don't tell me you believe that mountain man story?"

Lee glared over at him. "No! Of course not!" But his voice squeaked a bit as he spoke.

Miller shrugged and looked away.

"But uh... if he is real..." Lee started slowly. "Then hopefully he has kidnapped the King. Make our job easier."

Miller pulled his horse to a stop. "Hold up."

"We don't have time to stop!" Lee snapped, turning to look back. "That guy could be out here!"

Miller pointed at the ground. "Wolf tracks."

"Eaten by wolves would also make our job easier." Lee said with a smile.

Miller rolled his eyes and coaxed his horse forward. "Come on. And keep alert."

"Yeah, yeah." Lee mumbled. As they continued to follow the tracks, they found more evidence that the King may have been eaten by wolves. Or at least attacked. Wolf fur, ice blocks, broken wood, blood, and then the King's crown. Lee spotted the dropped crown, half hidden in the snow. He quickly slid from his horse and bent down to grab it. Then he turned and walked over towards a smear of blood in the snow.

"Real shame." Miller said, as he watched. "King being attacked by wolves."

Lee bent down and rubbed the bloodied snow into the grooves of the crown. "All that was left was his bloodied crown." Lee returned to his horse and tied the crown to his saddle. Then they started forward again, still following the tracks. Until they led to a cliff. They spotted the broken, fire burnt sled at the bottom. "They just... fell off?" The drop was too far to clearly see if there was any blood or bodies beneath the shattered sled.

Miller straightened up and pointed. "No." He said, shaking his head. "Tracks. On the other side."

Lee straightened up as well and squinted his eyes. "So they jumped the gorge without the sleigh?"

Miller nodded. "Looks that way."

Lee sighed. "So the King and this crazy mountain man with his horde of reindeer are still alive?"

"Looks that way." Miller turned his horse and started moving away. "Come on. We need to find a way around."

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

"So... you said you've seen this before?" Charlie trotted right next to Blue, keeping pace with her sister. But Owen had been quiet since they changed track. Unusually quiet. Granted, Zach had only met the ice man about a day ago. But still, every minute of every hour they'd traveled together had been filled with the man's voice and laugher. And now, nothing.

"Yeah." Owen breathed out finally, not looking the King's way at all.

Zach let out a sigh and hung his head. He was curious about this other incident of sorcery. How similar was it? Did this other person have the same sort of magic as Claire? Or some other elemental powers? Were they able to control themselves better than Claire professed her own control? If so, was it something teachable? Something Claire could learn? Something this other person would be willing to share?

To him, it sounded like she'd been denying this part of herself for a long time. Maybe her whole life. Zach couldn't imagine what that felt like. To be so terrified of yourself that you deny such a vital part of yourself. Zach was so lost in contemplation of his aunt's life, that he didn't hear Zara's voice until she was right beside him. He blinked his eyes and glanced over at her. Echo was prancing alongside Charlie, stepping high and shaking her head. Zach smiled absently at the young reindeer. Then he looked at Zara. "Sorry. I didn't hear you."

The snowgirl smiled at him sweetly. "I said not to worry, Just Zach. O's family will get you fixed like he promised. Then you can rest and recover and I will go back to talk with Claire."

Zach shook his head. "Claire's right." He sighed and looked away. "She's not safe." He admitted softly.

Zara shook her head. "She can't hurt me. Not physically. She... created me. I have no fear. only love." She tilted her head and smiled. "A deep, deep seated love that makes me burn down in my..."

"Stop!" Owen said loudly, pulling Blue to a stop.

"Yes, please!" Zach said, shaking his head at Zara.

Owen glanced over at them and frowned. "Uh... well... that too." He said with a shrug. "But I meant... we're here." He said, sliding down off Blue's back.

Charlie stopped and Zach slowly slid off. His legs were a bit shaky when he touched the ground but Charlie stood still and let Zach hold fast to her harness. He moved to step forward and Charlie matched him step for step. Zach breathed out as he held onto her, suddenly grateful Owen wasn't looking at him.

Zach looked around as they walked into the seemingly empty grove. He couldn't see anyone. Just a large, open area with rocks. Lots of rocks. All over the place.

"Hey guys!" Owen said with a smile and wave as he walked around the rocks. "You lost weight?" He bent down and appeared to be talking to a rock. Echo darted forward and let out squeaks as she weaved between the rocks. Delta and Blue joined in, moving more slowly than their youngest sister.

Charlie was the only one to remain in her spot beside Zach. "They're... rocks..." He said softly.

Zara inched closer to them. "Is... he talking to rocks?" She whispered.

"Barry!" Owen stopped by a different rock and knelt down. "I didn't know you were back!"

Zach tilted his head to the side and shrugged.

"He's crazy." Zara whispered. "I'll distract him and you run."

Zach shook his head quickly. "I don't think we need to..."

Owen let out a laugh and then stepped up to another rock. Then he turned around and smiled brightly. "This is my dad."