"Marcus," the young man's father interrupted his lesson with the captain of the guard. "The King would like to see you in his study."

He handed the blunted practice sword to Captain Erickson. "I'm sorry Captain. Thank you for the lesson."

The captain nodded and addressed the Kings chief adviser, and majordomo. "Your son improves with each lesson; in both personal combat as well as tactics and strategy." With a smile he added, "soon I'll have nothing left to teach him."

Kai's heart swelled with pride at the captain's praise and his son's good manners.

"I must take my leave of you Captain. Don't want to keep the King waiting." With that he and his father left the training room.

When they arrived, Kai motioned for him to wait as he was announced.

Marcus entered and found The King and Queen; two people whom he loved as he did his own parents, sitting side by side, obviously waiting to talk to him.

"Young man," The King began. "I assume that you know of the lost Princess of Corona."

"Yes, Sire. I know of her."

"You know also that she is our niece. Born the same year as you and Princess Elsa."

"Yes Sire. Taken from her crib as a baby."

"Yes," he said in a somber tone. "And I believe you are aware that she too has certain magical qualities that made her a target."

He was well aware of it. It was part of why the King and Queen didn't want knowledge of Elsa's powers to get out. They feared that it would make her a target to.

"Yes, Sire. I am aware of that. Healing if I'm not mistaken."

"Yes," the King said. "But I did not call you here to discuss that in detail. You see, all of Corona's allies, and would be allies or trade partners send representatives to aid in the search, even after all these years. All royal families send their sons, usually the crown prince, to aid in the search. In most cases it's meant to show a high degree of support to the royal family of Corona."

Now Marcus thought he knew where this might be going. The King continued.

"For us, of course it's more than an alliance. Queen Arianna is my sister, and King Fredrick my closest friend. My point is, Arendelle has no Prince to send for the search. But we do have one we love as a son, you, my boy. And since you are now old enough, we wish you to join the search."

"Until she is found?" He asked.

The King smiled. He knew the boy's concerns. He didn't want to be away from the girls too long. They wouldn't like it either.

"For no more than a year. After that, if she hasn't been found, you will return here to resume your duties taking care of the Princesses." He smiled as he saw obvious relief come over the young man's face.

"I'll prepare to leave at once your highness."

"A ship will be ready as soon as you are. Also, I have these letters," He held them out to Marcus. "Please present them to Fredric and Arianna as soon as you arrive. They will grant you an audience. For now, you are dismissed my boy."

Marcus packed what he would need, with the help of his father, and rather upset mother.

"You be careful Marcus."

"I will be mother. I have all the two of you, the king and the captain have taught me. Along with other, advantages."

"Careful with those. You don't have full control yet. That is a last resort. Do you understand?" His father chided.

"Yes sir."

He first went in search of the younger Princess. It didn't take long to find her in her room. He knocked and she called for him to come in.

"How are you doing cute stuff."

"A little down; I'm reading about Corona. It's an interesting place, with an interesting history."

He sighed. "Corona, huh. I'm guessing then that you know what I'm here for."

"Yeah, mother and father told me about it late yesterday. Since then, I've been looking into where you're going."

"They told me I'll be gone for up to a year."

"Yeah, I know," she said in a depressed tone.

"Hey," he cupped her cheeks, directing her attention to his eye. "I'll be back, and I'll have all kinds of stories to tell you. Maybe I'll pick up a few gifts for you and Elsa along the way."

She smiled. "Can't wait to hear them. I can just imagine the topper now. You, the gallant hero, find and rescue Rapunzel from some villain. The two of you fall in love and you become part of the Corona royal family."

He laughed lightly. "Anna, I'm happy with the family I'm in now. Besides, nothing is taking me away from you and Elsa."

She answers, "I'm happy to hear that." Then with a big grin she added. "I'm sure you'd never leave me." She emphasized, "OR Elsa."

"On that you can rely. And on the subject of Elsa; I have to go say goodbye to her to. So, give me a hug, then I have to go."

They embraced for a moment and Marcus went on his way.

He reached Elsa's door and knocked. "Elsa, it's me. Can we talk for a minute?"

The door opened right away, an unusual occurrence. He could guess why.

"May I come in."

"Yes, come in," she said without hesitation.

He walked in. "I'm guessing you know why I'm here."

"Yes," she said. He could tell she was getting upset but trying to hide it as usual. Damn he hated that 'conceal don't feel mantra.'

"Hey," He took her gloved hands. "I'll be gone for a while, but I'll be back. And as soon as I report to your parents I'm heading straight here." He pointed the floor under him.

She almost smiled. "You already have two Princesses; you want a third one?"

He looked down at her with a grin. "I'm collecting them."

She laughed; it was music to his ears. Even he was having a hard time getting that from her recently.

"That's what I want to hear," he told her.

"I think you have enough already."

"I agree, although Anna doesn't think so," Marcus told her. She's already making up fairy tales about me finding Rapunzel and marrying her."

He was rewarded with another laugh. "No way, you're coming back to us."

"Always Elsa. Count on it."

Elsa paused. "Do...do you really think you'll find her?"

He sighed. "You know she's our age. After this long, I'm afraid it's not too likely." She nodded. Marcus continued. "I'm sure I'm not telling you anything you haven't thought of but if the kidnapper wanted her alive she must have left Corona. That or she's found a great hide out...Then you know it's possible that Rapunzel..." He paused. Elsa finished it, "Died the night she was taken."

He nodded. "Her magic was the reason she was taken. To use it or to eliminate a magic user, no one but the kidnapper knows. I guess that's why your parents have imposed these rules."

"Yeah," she said, tears threatening to flow.

He pulled her into a hug. "Remember what I said, these shoulders can hold all the tears you can give them."

That started them flowing. Though they didn't seem to be tears of sadness. "I know," she chocked out the words.

Marcus had never been so tempted to break his father's rule and tell Elsa about his powers. They can learn together and get full control. Instead, he told her. "I see why the King does this, but I still hate it. I'll promise you this, I'm going to be looking into what more I can learn about magic. I might find ways to help you."

It felt so wrong to hold back on her. "I hate all of these secrets." He told her. "Anna doesn't even know why you won't let her in. Why you turn her away."

"The trolls said..."

"Yeah, the trolls. I'm getting less impressed with them all the time." If he didn't get out of here soon, he was going to tell Elsa everything about his powers. Follow his own judgment instead of his parents.

"I guess I need to get to my ship," he told her.

She looked up at him. "Yeah, I guess so." She gave him a kiss on the cheek; "For luck" she told him.

"I'll be the luckiest man in Corona then. She smiled and her face reddened slightly.

He walked toward the door he told her, "Just hang in there Elsa."

He walked out of the room when he heard Elsa call, "WAIT!"

He turned and walked back in. Elsa took off one of her gloves. "Let me give you this so you won't forget me. You can give it back when you get back from Corona."

He smiled and was rewarded with a smile in return. "You can count on me...And you hold on to Sir Jorgenbjorgen. Let him remind you that I'm thinking about you, and I'm coming back."

"I will," she said with a grin.

A short time later Marcus was standing on the dock. The royal family...minus Elsa, along with his own mother and father were there to see him off.

"Take care young man and represent us well." The King bade him.

"I will Sire."

"And do be careful," The Queen added. "Six hearts will be broken if you do not return well."

"I will, I've made a promise to."

"Off with you then son. I know you'll make us proud," Kai told him.

As he walked up the plank Anna noticed something, she leaned over to her mother, "Is that one of Elsa's gloves tucked into his belt?"

She smiled, "Must be. Far too small for him to wear."

Anna knew of the old chivalrous custom of the lady's favor.'I knew it.' She thought to herself.