A lot of scene jumping around here. 8D Like a lot. Everything happening at once! Woohoo!

Beware the Frozen Heart
Chapter 15: Betrayal

Gray ran blindly through the castle. Tears spilled down his face and he couldn't hear the voices calling his name. Staff or villages or whoever. He didn't hear them, didn't see their faces. All that went through his mind was that he was all alone now. He hardly remembered the parents he lost so many years ago. All he'd ever known was his brother. His best friend, his parent, his whole world! Zach had done everything for him! Claire had been there, yes. In the background. But she'd really been nothing to him. Not really.

Gray threw open the door to his bedroom without realizing it. He was just suddenly there. He slammed the door closed behind him and ran to his bed. He flopped on it and buried his head against his pillow. What was he going to do now? His brother dead and his aunt the cause. He could hardly believe it! But he'd seen the bloodied crown and heard the story of the men sent to help. He still hadn't believed it. But then Claire...

Gray hugged his pillow closer as sobs wracked his small frame. And then suddenly, he was yanked up off his bed and everything went black.

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

Owen held Zach against him tight as Blue weaved through the trees. He knew she was moving as fast as she could. He could feel it in the way her muscles flexed under him and the way her breathing labored. And if he focused on those facts hard enough, he would be concerned for her. But right then, all her thoughts were on the cold man in his arms and how they just weren't moving fast enough.

"Owen..." The voice was soft, barely a whisper against Owen's neck.

"Zach!" Owen glanced down at the King and breathed out in relief. Those pretty eyes were open and looking at him. "Shh!" Owen soothed out softly. "We're on our way back to Jurendelle."

"Jurendelle..." Zach repeated softly.

Owen nodded. "Yes. To Gray."

Zach's eyebrows furrowed slightly. "Gray?"

Owen nodded his head again. "Grandpappie said love was the way to thaw a frozen heart before you freeze."

"Love..." Zach repeated the word softly and then closed his eyes. His head fell back against Owen.

"Faster, faster!" Zara said. She was standing behind Owen, holding tight to his coat. Then she stopped. She glanced behind them and frowned. "Hey!" She snapped out. Then she let go of Owen and jumped off.

"Zara!" Owen glanced back and Blue slowed. Owen quickly turned back and shook his head. "No, keep going." He said, patting Blue gently on the side. "She'll be fine." Blue let out a snort and sped back up.

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

The neighboring King Hoskins paced back and forth along the deck of his ship. It was the only place he knew he wouldn't be overheard by the citizens of Jurendelle. He was practically foaming at the mouth. "I told you!" He snapped. "To make sure she didn't come back!"

The two men exchanged looks. Then Miller shook his head. "Sir, we were followed."

Lee nodded. "By a very large uh... assassin... guy. He uh... works at a trading post at the base of the mountains."

Miller glanced sideways at Lee. But he nodded his head. "Yes. He followed us and incepted us just as we were about to execute the Queen."

Hoskins stopped his pacing and turned to glare at his men. "You couldn't just take care of this guy as well?"

"He was very big." Lee lied. "And uh... the run in with the Queen went a little... different... then we may have insinuated. She nearly killed me."

Miller let out a sigh and nodded. "We may have not made it off the mountain if he had not intercepted."

Hoskins' eyes narrowed more and he threw up his arms. "Then kill him on the way back!"

"We uh..." Lee scratched at the back of his neck nervously. "We thought the Queen would wake and we might need his help again..." He said lamely.

"You should have killed them both!" Hoskins snapped.

"Sir..." Miller had stepped away. He moved to the edge of the ship and leaned over the railing. Something was moving fast over the ice. He squinted but couldn't quite make it out. It almost looked like... His eyes widened. "Reindeer."

Hoskins frowned at him. "Reindeer? Why do I care if there's a reindeer?"

Lee moved towards him and looked as well. "The guy with the King... has reindeer."

"The King?" Hoskins pushed them aside as he leaned over the edge, trying to get a better look. "You said the King was dead!"

"We thought he was!" Lee said, holding up his hands. "We swear!"

"Get down there now!" Hoskins snapped. "Stop him!"

"Sir!" Miller pointed. "He has the King with him."

"Hurry and get him inside before he's seen by too many people!"

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

They were nearing the castle gate when Blue finally slowed to a stop. The doors were closed. Owen frowned as he looked around. There weren't any guards anywhere. "Hey!" He called out. "Blue, down." He slipped off Blue's back and hefted Zach up. "Help! I have the King!"

Several long moments seemed to tick by before the gate started to open. Two men slipped out, dressed in the Jurendelle royal guard suits. "We'll take him." One of them said.

Owen frowned and stepped back. "Where're the rest of the guards?"

"Attending to the people inside." The other guard said.

"We will take the King to the Prince." The first one said.

Owen's eyes widened, his momentary doubts forgotten. He stepped forward and nodded his head. "Yes. You must get him to Gray, right away! His life depends on it."

Both guards nodded their heads as they took Zach and slipped back inside.

And then the doors were shut. And Owen was left standing, staring at it. He opened his mouth slowly. Then closed it and blinked up at the closed doors. Blue stepped forward and bumped her nose against his arm. Owen turned slightly. He breathed out and turned back to look at the door. "I guess... that's it..." He breathed out. "I just..." He bit his lip and shook his head.

Then draped his arm around Blue's shoulders and pulled her around. They stepped away from the castle gates and stopped for a moment. Owen quickly checked Blue out. But the reindeer snorted loudly and shook her head. And snapped at him when he walked around her a third time to check.

"Alright, alright." He said with a sigh and stopped. He glanced back at the castle one last time. Then turned and started walking away. Blue followed slowly.

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

"Gotcha!" The snowgirl yelled loudly as she latched onto the reindeer's leg. She let out a triumphant laugh and tried to pull the leg to a stop but it didn't work well. "Echo!" She snapped and scrambled up the reindeer's leg and plopped on her back. "Seriously! We have to stop and find Owen!"

At the sound of her master's name, Echo stopped. She let out a whine and shook her head.

Zara let out a sigh and patted the reindeer's neck. "Well... what'd ya expect? He told you to stay home and you snuck out!" Echo whined again and Zara shook her head. "How could you really not think you'd get in trouble? Now... uh... where to find Owen?"

Echo shook her head. Then turned and ran. The opposite way.

"Hey!" Zara snapped, bouncing slightly on Echo's back. But Echo didn't listen. She ran back through the village and out onto the fjords. And that was where she slowed to a stop. She lifted her head and her nostrils flared. Zara looked around, frowning. "What?"

Echo turned towards one of the ships frozen in the water and ran towards it.

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

Miller hefted the King's body up higher, holding him tightly as they headed towards the back entrance to the castle. They slipped inside easily without being seen. Miller headed towards the King's bedroom while Lee turned for the ballroom. Lee stepped closer and slipped inside amongst the crowd of gathered people.

It looked like the whole of the Kingdom was pressed inside the large room. Upfront, King Hoskins was raising his hands. "Quiet, please. Everyone!" He called out. "I've some grave and pressing news. The reason I've called you all here, and the guards too..." He paused for a moment, trying for a dramatic flair. "After hearing the Queen admittance to killing the King..." Hoskins had said gravely. "The young Prince Gray fled the castle in his grief."

Gasps ran rampant through the rooms.

"Now, now!" Hoskins held up his hands higher. "My men are still searching the castle grounds for him a second time, to be sure. But so far have found no trace..."

"You're outsiders!" One of the guards yelled. "What do you know?"

"We will search for ourselves!" Another yelled.

Lee quickly pulled his Jurendelle guard hat down over his eyes and stepped forward. "I just got back from searching the stables." The man lied. "The Prince's horse is gone! I think I saw him, heading through the village."

"How long ago?"

"Just a few minutes." Lee said. "I came straight here."

A lot of movement and jostling following. The guards rushed towards the door. A few of the people followed. Hoskins waited a few minutes and then stepped forward again, addressing those that stayed. "Calm down, everyone. I'm sure the young prince will be found. In the meantime, let's not get ourselves worked up. We just need to be patient and have faith!"

"Uh... sir!" Lee waved at him.

Hoskins nodded and smiled at the people. "I will speak with your guards and see how I can lend my expertise." He turned and hurried out the door, Lee fast on his heels. Once they were far away from the ballroom, Hoskins turned. "You have him?" He whispered.

Lee nodded and they rushed towards the King's room. Miller was standing outside, still dressed in the Jurendelle uniform.

"Well?" Hoskins demanded.

"I think..." Miller said slowly. "He's dying..."

Hoskins' mouth dropped open. "Dying?"

Miller nodded. "He kept mumbling, something about... having a frozen heart and needing his brother to thaw it before he froze for good..."

Hoskins' mouth slowly twisted into a smile. "This is perfect!" He said, excitement in his voice. "The King will die, the Kingdom will demand Claire's death because of it, and we'll get rid of Gray and everyone will believe the story of the kid running off. Jurendelle will make a wonderful East Fotten!"

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

Author's Notes: AH! There's only a couple chapters left! 8D I WILL BE SO SAD! :*(