They left for Corona a week later, and this time when they went to sea they took a real wooden ship manned by professional sailors. They had every luxury they could ask for - a large, comfortable cabin, good food, and respect and courtesy from the captain and crew.

The Nokk pranced beside the ship for a few miles, much to Elsa's delight and the crew's wonderment, before finally rearing and galloping back toward Arendelle.

The Captain bowed his head to Elsa. "Will any more friends be joining us, Princess Elsa?" he asked.

"No," she said. "But let me know if the wind fails."

"Of course," he agreed, a little mystified as to why. "It's just a three-day journey, my Lady. Relax, and before you know it, we'll be on the shores of Corona."

They spent most of the time in their cabin relaxing and playing chess - every game of which Elsa lost because Hiksti respected her too much to just let her win - and making love. Quietly. In the evenings they joined the Captain for dinner and made small talk.

The late afternoon of the third day saw them making port at the island city of Corona's capital.

The island city rose above the sea as one very large hill. Terraced slopes contained houses and shops featuring mostly white-plastered walls with exposed lumber and red-tiled roofs. At the crown of the hill rose an elegant white stone palace with blue-domed towers and more of the same red tile roofing.

The King and Queen and their daughter and son-in-law and grandson were already waiting on the largest dock in the harbor, dressed in their finery and happy anticipation. Elsa disembarked first with Hiksti close behind, and servants hauled out their trunks.

Because they were in public and many people were watching them, the greeting was formal. Elsa and Hiksti stopped first before the king and queen and paid their respects, Hiksti with a deep bow, Elsa with an elegant curtsey.

"Welcome to Corona," King Frederic said graciously. "Princess Elsa, won't you introduce us?"

"Of course, Uncle," Elsa said with a smile. "Hiksti, this is my uncle, King Frederic of Corona, and my aunt, his wife, Queen Arianna." She then gestured to the massively pregnant woman who appeared to be just a few years older than Elsa. "This is my cousin, Princess Rapunzel, the Heir Apparent, her husband Eugene, and their son, Aksel."

"It's so good to see you," Queen Arianna said. She was Elsa's father's sister, and the resemblance made Elsa blink against her stinging eyes, trying to forestall any tears that wanted to spring up. She stepped forward and embraced Elsa warmly, and the Snow Queen laid her head on her aunt's shoulder and smiled.

"It's good to see you, too. It's been too long."

It was Rapunzel's turn, next, and while Elsa was hugging her she felt a kick from the baby in her cousin's tummy. "Oh!" she said, startled and jumping back.

Rapunzel laughed. "Oh, don't mind her," she said, patting her belly. "She's just saying hello."

"Hello, everyone," Hiksti said, reaching to shake hands with everyone starting with the king and ending with Aksel. "I'm pleased to meet all of you."

But this time the luggage trunks were loaded into a large carriage and they all boarded carriages to take them up to the palace. Elsa and Hiksti got into the carriage with Rapunzel and Eugene, while the King and Queen took their grandson in theirs.

"You're due pretty soon, right?" Elsa asked Rapunzel, who looked uncomfortable no matter what position she tried.

"Yeah," huffed the brunette. "Pretty soon. Another month or so."

"How are you feeling?" asked Hiksti.

"Oh, you know, hot and sweaty, breathless, and over-full. Also, my tailbone is killing me, lately." She shrugged. "You would not believe the heartburn, either."

Elsa gave her a sympathetic look. "You sound like Anna. Who just had her baby, by the way."

"Oh, did she?!" Rapunzel said eagerly. "That's wonderful! Girl or boy?"

"A girl," Elsa told her. "Birgit. She's so cute!"

"Aww," Rapunzel cooed. "We'll have to visit, one of these days."

The ride to the palace wasn't very eventful and soon enough Elsa and Hiksti were shown to their rooms to unpack and relax before dinner at 8:00.

"Your cousin seems nice," Hiksti said.

"She's great," Elsa agreed happily. They were unpacking their things, having dismissed the servants.

"Didn't I hear something about she was kidnapped, or something?"

Elsa turned to him, surprised. "Yes, she was," she said. "By the witch."

"What witch?"

"The one who I told you about in Ahtohallan. The one who kept going through the door. Myrddin's descendent."

"That's who kidnapped her?" Hiksti asked in disbelief. He whistled, low and impressed. "What was her name? I never even asked."

"Gothel," Elsa told him. She frowned. "Horrible person. Poor Aunt Arianna never visited us when we were children, it was too painful for her, seeing her brother's children while her own child was who-knew-where." Frost started to form across the clothes she was unpacking and she scowled more fiercely.

"I can't imagine how terrible that must have been for them," Hiksti said, gathering Elsa into a hug. She relaxed into it and the frost dissipated.

"Well, she's dead, now, and Rapunzel is back home and safe, so that's all that matters."

He nodded, his cheek sliding along her platinum hair. "She really looks like your aunt," he said. "A lot."

"And she looks like Father," Elsa agreed.

Dinner was a formal affair that Hiksti, to Elsa's surprise, easily handled. She supposed that with a life-span as long as his, one learned all kinds of skills, including how to dine with royalty and make smalltalk like a champion. In no time at all he'd charmed her aunt and uncle, her cousins, and half of the servants with his self-deprecating sarcasm and witty observations.

"So," King Frederic said. He was eating very slowly to draw out the meal and give everyone plenty of time to finish their food. "I've heard an interesting rumor about you, Hiksti."

Hiksti paused and traded a look with Elsa. They hadn't really made it widely known that he had only recently been cured of immortality - as far as everyone else was concerned, he was only 30, and not as old as Jesus Christ. "Oh?" he asked cautiously.

"Yes, apparently, you're a chess master."

A grin flashed across Hiksti's face and he nodded. "I've been known to play," he admitted.

"We'll have to play, then," the king said. It was a command.

"Only if you promise not to behead me if I win, Uncle," Hiksti said drily.

The king guffawed. "If you win, I'll gift you a fine horse," he promised. "But if I win, you have to do something for me."

"What's that?" Hiksti asked.

"A favor later to be determined," the king said, waving a fork in the air vaguely.

"Up to and including the value of a fine horse," Hiksti countered.

"Done, then!" the king agreed.

"Oh, boy," Elsa sighed.

Her aunt turned to her with pity in her eyes. "Sorry about this," she said. "But Frederic does love to play chess. And he never loses."

"He's about to," Elsa said quietly with a proud little smile. The queen didn't look convinced.

And Hiksti did win. He played so viciously that by the time the game was done a mere ten minutes later, the king was actually sweating. He stood up from the table and looked down at the board for a good two minutes before gently knocking over his king and conceding. "Well played, young man," he said to Hiksti.

Elsa had to bite her lip to keep from giggling. If only her uncle knew just how old Hiksti really was.

The two players shook hands and Hiksti reset the board, his motions deft.

"Where did you learn to play like that?" asked King Frederic.

"From a very old man in India," came the answer.

"You've been to India?" the king asked in wonder. "You've got to tell me more about it!"

So Hiksti did, regalling the entire family with stories of elephants and tigers and deep, dark jungles, of many-armed gods and festivals of light and color, of spices fragrant and fiery, and people with dark eyes and hair and bright smiles.

They went to sleep late that night, and in the morning Hiksti chose a fine, strong blood bay stallion from the stables. Elsa was gifted a grey mare as well, at least for her stay in Corona - she had horses in the stables at Arendelle already and didn't need another.

Eugene sidled up to them while they were putting the horses through their paces in the stable yard. "Hello, cousin," he said with a charming little grin.

"Eugene," Elsa said, pulling her mare to a stop and looking down at him. "Good morning."

"So, I see you two are going for a ride. Mind if I join you?"

Husband and wife traded a glance before he shrugged, and she turned to her cousin-in-law and nodded. "Certainly," she said agreeably.

In no time at all Eugene was mounted on a dun roan gelding and the three of them were clip-clopping through the city to reach the countryside. Once they reached the open expanse of a fine meadow filled to bursting with summer flowers, they broke into a gallop and raced to the other side. Eugene won, but just barely, having the advantage of this being his home territory. Elsa and Hiksti pulled up next to him, grinning and sweaty, and they all dismounted and led their horses to a stream.

"So what brings you guys to Corona, anyway?" Eugene asked with a sly little smile.

"Just travelling," Elsa lied. "To see the sights."

"Mmhm," he said, not sounding impressed. "I mean the real reason."

"What do you mean?" Hiksti asked innocently.

"I mean," Eugene said crisply, "That I know from Anna's letters, which Rapunzel lets me read, that you are more than you seem. How much more, I don't know. But from the way she described you, Hiksti, you're quite an adventurer." He turned his cunning hazel gaze to Elsa. "We all know about your ice powers, and we've all heard the story about the enchanted forest - very neat, by the way - so what's the story with your husband, hm?"

"There's no story," Elsa said coldly.

"You're lying," Eugene said breezily. "I can tell. I'm a fantastic liar myself, so I know a liar when I see one."

"That's my wife you're talking to," Hiksti said dangerously.

"Oh-ho!" Eugene crowed. "And her mysterious husband." He wiggled his fingers in the air sarcastically. "No details on you in the letters, just hints and generalities. You're widely traveled and highly accomplished, Anna wrote. So what's your story, hm? And how did you lose that leg? Are you a pirate?"

"No," Hiksti said flatly.

"Got magical powers of your own? Are you a wizard?"

"Eugene, please," Elsa said.

"Is he cursed?" Eugene asked, and Elsa couldn't stop her eyes from darting to Hiksti, who was glaring at the other man. Eugene pointed a finger in triumph. "Cursed," he said. "I knew there was something! What kind of curse? Is it gone, or is that why you're here, to break it?"

"Stop," Elsa commanded, drawing herself up to her full height. Suddenly all around them the trees and grass and every flower petal was coated in a dense coat of crystal-clear ice. The horses started away from the stream which had frozen over and Eugene's gelding slipped and whickered in alarm.

Eugene stopped, clearly caught by her commanding tone. He watched his breath frost in the air and shivered. "Well, well, well," he said slowly. "Seems I hit a nerve."

"We're here," Hiksti said, stalking closer to him. "On vacation. To see the sights."

"Why are you grilling us like this, Eugene?" Elsa asked coldly.

"Because my wife wants to know," he said baldly. "And what Rapunzel wants, Rapunzel gets."

"Why didn't she just ask us, herself?" Elsa asked.

He shrugged and broke off an ice-encased twig from the tree nearest to him and twirled it nonchalantly in his fingers. "So… care to tell me what kind of curse?"

"No," Elsa bit out, but at the same time Hiksti said, "Immortality."

Eugene's eyes popped wide open and he stared at Hiksti. "You're joking."

"I'm not," Hiksti contradicted him. "But it's gone, now. I can die just as easily as you." Something about the way he said that sentence carried a threat, and this time when Eugene shivered it wasn't from the cold.

"Point… taken," Eugene said slowly. Then he turned to Elsa and sketched a bow. "Cousin, I'm sorry for my behavior. I wasn't brought up in a court so my methods might be a bit… coarse. But I promise you, only Rapunzel will hear about what I learned today."

Elsa stared at him for a few more moments before lifting her chin and giving him a short, imperious nod. "She told me that you're a man of your word. If she trusts you, so must I."

"So… why are you here, then? If the curse is broken?" Eugene asked. He looked back and forth between them. "C'mon, you can tell me. Rapunzel and I got into all kinds of adventures before we settled down to marry. We totally get it. Really!" His tone turned pleading. "And we can help you! Cover for you if needed."

Hiksti and Elsa exchanged a long, lingering look, before finally Hiksti nodded and turned toward the other man. "We're looking for a magical doorway," he explained. "It leads to another world."

"So…. you're leaving the planet?" Eugene asked, his voice pitching upwards in confusion.

"Just temporarily," Elsa amended. "We're looking for something."

"Gold?" Eugene guessed. "Spells?"

"We're not going to tell you that," Hiksti said firmly.

And no matter how much he pleaded, Eugene never was told the answer.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Yay, reviews! Thank you to everyone who left a review, I'll do my best to respond to them here! Reviews make me happy and keep me motivated, so thank you, thank you!

Riverdog: Yay, my first review for this story! Actually, I have never even played Skyrim, but I'm guessing there are plenty of planets with lots of moons, heheh! As I haven't seen all of Tangled: Rapunzel's Adventures, I will only be incorporating bits and pieces of it, and mostly the movie Tangled and my own head-canon, until I've caught up on the show. I know from browsing that King Frederic has made some… iffy choices, and that will be reflected a bit in later chapters.

Lotusblte94: I promise I won't stop the story, now! I plan to release chapter 2 this weekend, sometime. Thank you soooooo much for leaving a review! I hope you stay tuned to get your questions answered! :D

Jiang-sama: Thank you soooooo much for leaving a review! Stay tuned for what you were hoping to see… no promises. Yet. Mwahahahah!

Hilko Salomons: Hah, that's a great idea! I just might use that! Thank you for the review!

Mark of Arendelle: Yay! I'm so glad you like the story! Thank you for taking the time to review!