Disclaimer: I do not claim to own Ella Enchanted or her characters.

Winter was getting no warmer. It was an ordinary Thursday afternoon and the stable was quietly crowded. Accompanied by Sid as always, Christian was assisting a wealthy couple with their mounts and answering a few questions when he saw a horse race by out of control. Instinctively leaping onto Sid, Christian soon sped out of the stables leaving the wealthy couple coughing on his dust.

The rider clearly had no idea what she was doing and the horse seemed spooked. Urging Sid to go faster Christian flattened himself on his horse, bringing his head align with Sid's ear. Both horses had just cleared the fence when he noticed the small cliff that led to the river ahead. In what seemed to be the last second he pulled the rider off the horse and onto his. Leaping down the short cliff they safely came to a stop but the other horse continued into the flowing river. Bucking and rearing the horse thrashed in the current of the water. Quickly removing his vest and shoes so that they wouldn't weigh him down, Christian lowered himself into the freezing water and waded to the horse. Taking a deep breath, he swam near the horse's trapped leg.

He brushed away the silt covering the trapped hoof and carefully pried it out from under the rock. A few mind-numbingly cold moments had passed but Christian felt no urgent need to go to the surface and breathe. There was only one reason for that, years and years of grueling training. Finally emerging from under the water he slowly led the horse out, careful to protect his feet from the animal's massive hooves. When they were safely on land he heard the rider crying. Her long hair cascaded down the back of her white dress. Thinking she was hurt he went and gently placed his hand on her shoulder asking, "Are you alright miss?

The lady gasped and threw her arms around him, crying. Bewildered and clueless on how to comfort someone Christian awkwardly patted her on her head. She sobbed, "Oh, I thought that you had… had drowned. You were under for so long. Oh I was so afraid." After the lady ceased her sobbing and pulled away, Christian ran a quick check to see if the horse was capable of carrying a rider. Luckily for him, it was.

Shivering from the cold that had frozen his wet hair and chilled his clothes Christian was in a hurry to get home. As politely as possible he pointed out to the girl who was staring blankly into the river that he was sopping wet and wanted to leave before he froze and really died. It seemed to work as the girl apologized profusely before hurrying to her horse. The going was seemed extraordinarily slow, and his vest did little to protect him from the cold. When Christian entered the stable with the lady, whose name he still did not know, he quickly dismounted and walked towards a concerned Julian.

"Co…old" he shivered, from his hair hanging small icicles. Julian threw a wool blanket over his shoulders and led him to the fireplace. Sitting him down on the chair he began to scold him.

"What were you thinking? Running off into the cold like that without warning me. I only found out from the Frandel's who were coughing from the dust kicked up by your speedy exit. And why are you so wet? What did you do, jump in the river?"

"Actually, he did." The lady he saved, now safe, warm, and thankful, had just entered the room.

"He WHAT?" Julian exploded.

"I did not jump!"

"What then, did you ease yourself in?" he said sarcastically.

"Well… yes." Christian admitted cautiously.

"WHAT! Are you bloody INSANE? What were you thinking?"

"What did you want me to do, let the horse drown?" when Julian didn't reply he continued, "Anyway it's not as bad as it seems."

"It's not as bad as it seems! You must be insane. There are icicles hanging from your head. Come let's get you warmed up. I'll go get the healer so she can do a quick check-up." The ever protective Julian handed him a towel to warm up but was pushed aside as Christian stood up.

"It's alright; I'll be fine once I get some sleep." He said in tired yet slightly impatient voice.

"If you say so, but there is no way that you are working tomorrow. I can't afford to have you sick and tired after that. It's the week of Christmas celebration including the big ball the palace is hosting on Sunday."

"Yes sir!" he mock saluted before excusing himself to leave his room. There Sid was impatiently waiting to have the door unlocked. To show his displeasure he poked Christian in the chest before moving aside. "Okay, okay. Sorry dude." Christian said sarcastically.

Once inside he closed his newly installed door (an expedited order, courtesy of one member of the Royal family) and stood in the middle of the room. An expression of peace came on his face after a few deep and meditative breaths. Then he began to glow, first orange, then gold, and finally white. By the time the white glow surrounding him faded the icicles had melted away and his clothing had dried. Shaking his head gently to release a few last droplets of energy he walked to his bed and fell into deep sleep.

He was awoken in the middle of the night the creak of the door opening and someone tiptoeing towards his bed. Waiting until the individual was within attacking distance; Christian instinctively grabbed the knife under his pillow and tackled the person, holding him at knife point. "Who are you?" he said in a no-nonsense voice that seemed capable of murder.

The person gasped, "Christian! It's me… Julian! For god's sake, don't hurt me!"

"Julian? What…Oh sorry." Christian rolled off of him and lay on the ground after deftly tossing the knife on his bed.

Rubbing his throat that Christian had nicked, Julian croaked out the answer. "I just- just wanted to make sure you were alright. I was really worried last night. Thought you might need some help… that you were sick."

Christian stared at Julian for a moment before helping him up to his feet. "You needn't have worried I'm alright. Thanks anyway."

Julian gave the young man a quick but firm hug (a manly one, of course) and walked toward the door. "Just…just take care of yourself, you hear?"

"Yeah and hey, I'm really sorry about… you know, before. I didn't know that it was you" he said, sounding thoroughly embarrassed and apologetic.

"Don't you worry about it. It makes me glad to see that you can protect yourself. I mean, what if it wasn't me." Julian grinned toothily and shut the door on his way out.

"I should have enough experience with stuff like that." Christian mumbled to himself before settling back in bed. Sleep didn't come as quickly as he hoped but when it did come he saw that it was well worth the wait.

As promised, he took the next day off and wandered around the town on Sid. Clip-clopping through the cobblestone roads, the two meandered through the crowded market. Appropriately dressed for the weather this time, Christian kept the hood of his cloak up for added protection. Peering from under the hood his eyes fell on two men that clearly looked as though they did not belong. And indeed they did not. Stamped on their back was an insignia that ripped deep into his heart. He stared at the familiar red fire that enveloped the twisting dragon. The fear that gripped his heart spread through his body, his muscles tightening and hands becoming clammy. No, it couldn't be… how could they have followed him here? His stiffness alerted Sid that something was amiss and he quickly yet discretely took his rider away from whatever was causing him to act so. (AN: What a smart horse…)

Not even properly registering that he had left the town Christian stayed deep in thought. It didn't take him very long to come to a well thought-out conclusion… he was in big trouble. It also didn't take him long to come to an equally well thought-out plan of action, (AN: run in circles and scream in terror!) find and talk to Queen Ella. (darn…)

As luck would have it, she wasn't very hard to find. In fact she was standing right in front of him. He grinned and patted Sid on the head. It was almost as though Sid read his mind and took him to Ella. Of course Sid wasn't stupid and did recognize the deep trust that his keeper had towards her. She motioned for him to join him on her walk. One hand rubbing Sid's cheek and the other hanging at his side, Christian walked with the Queen into the field. Before he could say what was on his mind she quickly deduced that something was wrong and asked, "What happened?"

"They're here."

"Here? As in the palace?"

"No, thank god. I saw them in town."

"And how did you know that they were looking for you."

"I know them"

"So? I don't understand?"

"They are the two best hit-men from where I'm from. My father is the only one who uses them. He always uses them to hunt down people, and believe me, they won't understand. From where I'm from, you do what the king says or-" here his finger ran across his neck.

This action seemed to scare him and the teenager began to blather. "I just don't know what to do. I mean I can't go back. He'll kill me! I mean he would kill me if he didn't need me so badly. But what he's asking me to do! I rather die. You know me; I can't go around killing people who are my dad's enemies. I mean, I don't even agree with him on anything. I-" his fear and anger was evident in his eyes. His hair was rippling in a nonexistent wind and the grass around him was acting similarly. Seeing that he was loosing control the Queen stopped his babbling shaking him by the shoulder.

"You're getting out of control." Once he calmed down enough she continued, "And what if they do catch you and you won't do what your father says? What then?

Christian answered in a soft tone, "I don't want to die."

The silence that followed was interrupted by Ella who said, "He will not kill you. He needs you alive, remember? He would lose everything by killing you. You needn't worry about that."

"Yes, I was being… irrational. I'm sorry; I shouldn't have lost control as it only resulted with me frightening myself. It was just that fear… fear of killing, fear of dying." He paused, absorbing what he had just discovered.

"First you must let go of that fear. It is what blocks your… magic, your control. Lose the fear of your father and what he can do by focusing on what he can't do."

"What can't he do?"

"He can't change who you are. He cannot make you into who he wants you to be and that will never happen. Fearing who he is and what he can do will do nothing to help you. First, have trust in yourself. You know that what he asked you to do was wrong. You knew that instinctively and you left. You left because you were confused. But you're not anymore."

Christian pulled his gaze from the ground to Ella's face. He whispered slowly, "I know what I have to do."

Ella nodded but said a quick word of advice, "You have the upper hand now. Don't throw it away by rushing off to find those who search for you. Use this time to strategize, to train, or to do whatever else you need. And besides… you promised that you would come to the Christmas ball!"

Laughing he said jovially, all the darkness and fear gone, "And here I was thinking that you really cared when all you wanted was to see that I come to your little dancey thing."

"It is NOT a little dancey thing. It is a ball!"

"Big difference."

"For once you're right."

"What?"

"There is big difference. And now that you are all cleared up thanks to my superb help, I'll leave you to get ready for the BALL. Not a dancey thing, a ball."

"Thank you, oh great advisor. Your expertise was greatly needed in unfuddling my fuddled brain. And yes I know, unfuddling is not a word."

"I'm glad that you have learned as much." Ella laughed before bidding her young charge goodbye. Taking a glance at his calm posture she smiled quite pleased to see she had helped him. Goodness knows that she needed the adventure.

Review!