Up north, far from King Aragorn's just hand is a kingdom. No not even a kingdom, for the king cared nothing for his subjects. It was a ghost village around a great castle, where the north wind was said to grow cold from the lord's bitter hate and cruelty, where they said it was too cold to snow.

Well, it was snowing now, and Stoneblu cursed it as he rubbed his hands. He was heading to the castle to his best patron, Lord Frostanan.

They stopped at the gates where no guard stood, save two frostbitten skeletons in full armor. Stoneblu stopped the caravan and jumped down from the driver's seat. He flipped a wave to the two lifeless sentries.

"Good to see you again, lads, thanks for holding the door open," He quickly crossed the icy courtyard and knocked three times on the large frosted door.

It opened quickly and a blast of warm air made Stoneblu smile. There stood a lovely lady with hair the color of a black night and eyes as grey as storm cloud.

"Ah, Lady Icekith, how are-"

"Shove it, Rogue, where's the hobbit? Father is not in the best of the moods, and neither am I," She spat, her ice flashing. She was Lord Frostanan's only child. He had wanted a son, but didn't want another woman dead from childbirth so he raised her to be his heir. Icekith was the head of the armed forces and was ruthless and aggressive.

"Ah, Lady, that's what I came to address your devoted father about," Stoneblu crooned giving a sweeping bow. Icekith gave a hiss and placed her callused hand on her sword.

"You didn't get her! Father will have your head, you know,"

"Umm, it's not a matter of not being able to catch her, it's a lost of funds. Her price has doubled I'm afraid," He said, his sugary smile on his lips. The icy captain glared at Stoneblue and then turned on her heel.

"Follow me, snowslug, and keep up," She barked and marched down the hall. Stoneblu followed as two unseen sentries closed the door behind him.

"So, you failed, Stoneblu? You've caught me feys, centaurs, and sirens for my zoo and you cannot catch one silver-toed rabbit?" Frostanan frowned as Stoneblu kneeled before the cold king's throne.

This man was no caring lord and would snap his fingers and have his daughter spill the rogue's blood should he bore him. Icekith stood beside his throne and glared down at Stoneblu.

Stoneblu smiled at the Lord Frostanan, his gold teeth winking in the torchlight.

"My lord, you know I'm a man of money and the rabbit goes to highest bidder,"

"Really," said Frostanan, resting his chin on his fist, which glittered with silver rings. "And what was the highest bid?"

"A hundred pieces of dragon gold,"

"Dragon gold!?" Frostanan roared and laughed like Stoneblu had traded a ruby ring for a daisy. "You idiot if it gold you want I can give three hundred pieces of white gold, pure silver,"

Stoneblu's eyes gleamed, "You don't mean,"

"I do," Frostanan said and flipped a coin at Stoneblu. The rogue picked it up and gasped. The coin was mythril!

"Three hundred pieces, Stoneblu, bring her to me!"

"Oh, right away, my lord!" Stoneblu groveled and scrambled to his feet and left the throne room gazing at his reflection in the single coin.

Frostanan waited till he had gone and then rose to his own feet. Icekith approached him.

"Was that a wise deal father? Is that silver-toed wench worth that much?" She asked. The icy lord turned to his warrior daughter.

"Icekith, no other person owns a silver-toed and none ever will unless it's me. If its your men you're worried about, I'm sure a night with will be enough payment for their cut salaries," And with that he left down the hall.

Frostanan was a big man; he was lean and pale with a mane of silver and eyes of flint black. He wore a robe of heavy blue velvet trimmed with spotted snow-lion fur, dripping with chains of silver and crystal. He hated gold; he collected things of silver, especially women. He had a harem, if you will, of women, orcs, elves, humans, half-breeds, and breeds died out, but he did not have hobbits. HE would have this one.

He flung the doors opened to the women's chamber were the inner walls were made of crystal so he could see each and every one of his ornaments. Several approached him and he grabbed the youngest, a human, by her sparkling silver tresses, and crushed her mouth against his. Most his women were found and bought from Stoneblu, he had not failed him yet.

Frostanan broke the kiss when the girl failed to keep up with his hunger and pushed her away.

"Mlethier," Frostanan barked, "What are you doing in here?" the wintry lord growled. There, just paces away was a pale man, not a man but an elf, Stoneblu's rival in business.

"You're lovely daughter let me," Mletheir smiled, "She told me of your trouble, it just so happens I know where your rabbit is and I'll captured her on one condition,"

"What is it?"

"There is another women, a halfbreed, I want her,"

"What do I care who you keep? Get me my rabbit and you may choose who want," Frostanan sneered and grabbed a nearby elf with silver eyes and dragged her away. Mlethier smiled, his green eyes sparkling and then with a sweep of his grey cloak he left the crystal rooms.