Fall was in full bloom. The mountain men were already supplying for winter. Meeting with the dukes in charge of over seeing this years progress and tradable goods, Agnarr was delighted to meet a duke his age. Rudolf the only son of his deceased father. Agnarr hadn't met him due to schooling from abroad. Rudolf and Agnarr became fast friends. Soon the 17 year olds were racing horses, sword fighting, and camping. Most of the people in Agnarr's life was philosophical and hitting the books than messing around.

Spending time with Rudolf brought back fond memories of Lieutenant Mattias. Rinsing, jumping, and playing around. At least when Lieutenant Mattias wasn't scolding him.

*

Rudolf was interesting, sure he went for higher education abroad in Finland, but he didn't miss out on any mischievous adventures. Rudolf had told him stories of him sneaking into sweet shops and running from the head master hiding in the boarding woods to spend the whole day swimming in a near by stream.

To even having his first sweet heart, who he had to break contact with after she was transferred to another school for unrelated reasons.

Rudolf was something else. Agnarr felt a bit awkward thinking about how confident Rudolf was compared to himself. Rudolf seemed more of a prince than him. Agnarr felt a bit jealous about it, but still he knew he couldn't fault Rudolf for that. Agnarr knew he wasn't a pipsqueak or anything like that, but he did feel a bit unmanly at times when it came to sparring with guys like Rudolf.

*

One day while riding Agnarr didn't want to go home. Looking back as he rode, he realized the guards weren't behind them. Somehow they had lost them without knowing it. Glancing at Rudolf the two shared the same idea. Quickly before the guards could into view at any moment, the two got off their horses and lead them behind some trees and bushes.

Resting beneath the trees, the two laid their enjoying the world around them. Pretty soon they had forgotten they were hiding and laughed telling each other stories, joking one another, until it started getting dark.

Noticing the light was fading, Rudolf and Agnarr knew they better get going before it got too dark. Getting Agnarr's face went pale. Their horses were gone. Turning to see Rudolf's reaction, Agnarr was stunned to see not an ounce of worry on his face. More of an indifference look.

"Umm, what do we do now?" Agnarr asked. Shrugging his shoulders. "Hmm, I don't know." Rudolf stopped for a moment to think before he continued. "We're too far to walk, so we might as well start collecting firewood." With that Rudolf turned on his heel to set about the task.

Agnarr tried to quickly pull himself together to not look bad in front of Rudolf. Together they made a camp fire, but that was it. Thankfully they both had their swords however that was it. There wasn't a stream near by to catch fish, and none had seen any berries near by. If they wanted to, they could find some food, but another blessing was they had stuffed themselves earlier an hour after lunch with food, so they weren't going to be too hungry. However they still were hungry. Agnarr had fallen asleep obvious to the wide awake Rudolf.

*

Rudolf faithfully kept guard as the king slept. Someone had to protect him while the two were still in the wild. Rudolf's thoughts turned to the fun they had that day, his friendship with Agnarr, his family's expectations, and his future. He kept watch over the fire making sure he still had wood to feed it. He wasn't too particularly worried. The world was full of mother nature's sounds, and the only real threat was mosquitoes, wolves, or bears.

Soon Rudolf's thoughts turned to his mother's lectures. Now that he's a duke, and of age, it's time for him to settle down. But he wasn't having none of it. If anything he'd rather be a peasant and free than be a duke and married off to some highborn lady with a title for his family's name than himself. Constantly she's dragging his ear with her words of filling his father's shoes, and making the king happy.

It was easy befriending the king. All he had to do was be himself. Honestly he wasn't expecting to befriend him. All he expected was to meet him and that was that. However the two instantly hit it off.

Both have roles to fill, both are young and both want more than just living the lives they've been born into. Constantly the two could talk about this all day everyday.

By dawn Rudolf was able to catch a few hours of sleep as Agnarr took over, feeling guilty for making Rudolf stay up the whole night.

*

The sun was rising the world was waking, and Agnarr couldn't help but kick himself. He dozed off so easily last night it wasn't til this morning waking up drowsy that he noticed a bit tired Rudolf sitting against a tree with sword in hand ready in case of any danger.

Noticing him awake, he gleefully sounded "Good morning sleeping beauty, have sweet dreams." At that Agnarr playfully chucked a small stone at Rudolf, purposely off course it hits the tree than Rudolf.

Agnarr tried to apologize for being inconsiderate, but Rudolf assured him it was no trouble. At that Agnarr offered to let him get some sleep before they head back.

Agnarr soon leaned himself against a tree, trying to feel like Rudolf. Having his thoughts turn to his family's roles and future. He wasn't sure what his future holds, but he knew he had to choose a wife soon. Constantly his advisors tell of eligible princesses and duchesses. They're all hoping for him to be married by his 18th birthday, but he wasn't having it.

When he marries he wants to be sure it's for love. However, his family wasn't known for love. His great grandfather married for an alliance, his grandfather married for money, and his father married for his duty. His father did love his mother, but he was lucky, only to lose her to degrading health.

Was he no different?

*

Rudolf and Agnarr weren't spared the waging storm of lectures questionings once they got back. Practically yanked into the carriage Rudolf could hardly keep any composure having one ear in my mother's hand and the other being stabbed by her words.

Agnarr couldn't help but be thankful he didn't have a worried mother to deal with, especially with such a tempter.

Riding back with the guards escort into town, I noticed we were passing near Hudson's Harth. I was hoping to catch a glimpse of Iduna, but she wasn't anywhere to be found.

It's common for Arendelle Royals to be aquatinted with the public, even have a few friends, but eventually life must go on, and I don't want it to.

At least now I got a good friend in Rudolf. He won't fade into the shadows of a golden childhood.

*

It's been a few weeks sense our little adventure in the woods, but it feels like months. Constantly! All day I hear nothing but, "These need to be signed your royal highness, these need your attention please look over them carefully, sign, read, write, your highness."

"Ahhh! It makes my head want to burst!" I think to myself. As I hold my head in my hands.Obviously,this is what my job is, and I'll get used to it, but I'm not even King yet, and already I'm drowning in papers and decision making.

Suddenly a cough grabbed my attention, looking up, I nearly fell out of my skin. It was Rudolf!

"Rudolf!" I said jumping to my feet. "What are you doing here?" I breathed.

Looking around clearly amused at my predicament, looking back towards me, hands on his hips, smiling boyishly, before he started towards me. Taking me off guard he grabbed my hand and dragged me away from the room. "What are you-?"

"Shh! You'll give us away, come on". Is all he said, as he lead me down the hall through the rooms down the stairs, and away we were, to who knows where.