A/N: Hi, everybody! I hope you're all doing dandy. These chapters that I'm busting out right now (this one and perhaps the one after) just need to be put out so the story doesn't have any gaps between calm and storm. But enough yadda yadda from me.

Disclaimer: I do not own Frozen or the Frozen franchise.

Madolen

"Gala?" I swing open and shut different cabinets in the spacious, dark green kitchen.

"Yes, Madolen?" Gala regards me, even as she fights with a warrior of a stain on the counter along the wall.

"You haven't seen a cake anywhere have you?"

"I have, actually," says she. "Your husband and your parents had some for breakfast." Gala flutters her eyelashes as she speaks. "They were in the Gardens, maybe you can catch them before the finish it all."

'"I haven't had any at all," I pout.

"Well, you made it ten days ago, Madolen," says Gala, snickering.

"It probably wasn't even that good anyways, was it, Fabrice?"

Fabrice busies himself by pecking at his feathers, cleaning himself up.

"I'm almost going to miss having so many people in the castle," Gala says, wringing her cloth into a pail and wiping her hands with it before declaring herself done. "I don't think I've ever seen so many men and women and children of one family in the castle."

"That's Hans' dream," I say, biting into a peach. "He wants a whole horde of children."

"That sounds pretty nice," says Gala. "I'd love to have little ones as far as the eye can see."

"I should've given him to you," I snicker.

Gala laughs with me before she sighs a content sigh. "Can I get you something to eat, my darling friend?"

"I'd really like a fruit salad right about now," I say.

"A fruit salad?" Gala echoes. "Now I know you're sick."

"Hey, I ate watermelon not too long ago," I add. "I'm turning over a new leaf."

"If you say so, Madolen," Gala snorts.

"I am turning over a new leaf, so I do say so," I state with a big grin. "I'll make myself a fruit salad in just a minute." I lean the peach over to Fabrice and he chomps cheerily on the juicy fruit.

"Nonsense," Gala busies herself getting to work on my breakfast. "You go and meet your parents and Hans' for the morning. Apparently the weather is doing something serious to the crops. They might be having a meeting in the Council area."

"I should go," I stretch out my limbs and begin my journey to the Council area. "Take your time with the salad, Gala. Help yourself to some if you'd like."

"No promises that it'll still be there when you want it," she jeers.

…

"Hello, Madolen," greets Da. "So nice of you to join us – finally." He teases.

"I'm sorry, everyone," I begin as I enter the Council area, a vast room with high ceilings, fat windows and the interior décor of a very wooden boardroom. Hans pulls out a chair for me as I approach. I sit down groggily. "I thought I'd wake up much earlier today."

"No matter," Ma starts. "The matter would be the frost that's accumulated on our vegetables. We were informed that all the crops in the ground have been attacked by biting winds that have taken almost half of our crops out."

"That quickly?"

"I'm afraid so," Hans has a seat next to me at the long dark wood table. "The plants were peachy one morning and plagued the next."

"Then we should set up a greenhouse around the crops," I say.

"I thought we should too, but the terrain of that set of islands isn't an easy one," Hans says. "And most of the vegetables will still perish. They can't handle the cold, even in the shelter."

"We'll only have spinach," I say lowly in thought. "What about the fish? Are they still okay? And the livestock?"

"The fish are fine," tells Ma. "But the livestock may take a toll as the weather wears on. There may not be anywhere for them to graze."

"We've put aside food for that possibility beforehand though," Da says. "And the absence of sea predators might prove a benefit for the spawning fish."

"Ew, Da," I snort a laugh.

"What?" my father laughs himself. "That's what they're doing."

"I know, I know," I grin. "I think we should find out the exact situation with the freezing crops and try to tent them before the end of the month."

"The terrain is the most pressing matter, however," Hans says. "If we can, we should cover the crops. If we can't, it'll be a waste in time. We should just uproot the vegetables and cook and pickle them immediately instead of trying to save what's already dead."

"Should I tell Jasper to take some men and give us measures?"

"Yes, Mads, as soon as you can," Ma tells.

"I suggest that we also implement the 'Rainfall Project'," I tell. "We should get every household to set up their barrels to catch as much rain as we can."

"Then that's what we'll do," says Da. My parents begin to stand, and I assume the meeting has come to an end.

"Anything else?"

"No, nothing," Hans stands. "The three of us have handled everything else."

"Oh!" I blink, a little surprised. "Okay, well, I'll go do what I must then. It is a few more days until the Cow Train."

"Oh I can't wait for the Almabtried," Da beams. "This storm isn't all bad, what with us having to rush the wedding and Almabtried we get twice the fun in even less than half the time."

"What exactly is Almabtried?" Hans questions.

"I'm sure Madolen would have a more colourful way to explain it to you," Ma tells. "Better for her to sort of show you."

"The preparation is a bit rushed, but I can show you for sure," I tell.

"I think I'm going to have a lie down," says Ma as she slowly leaves. "My head's a bit all over the place."

"Anything to do with napping can definitely include me," Da adds.

"Madolen, while everything is slow for a while, I thought we could go into the kingdom," Hans says. "You did say that you wanted more of an opportunity to be among our people."

"Yeah," I start. "That sounds like a great idea."

"Then come with me," Hans smiles.

Hans

Madolen loops her arm in mine and we start down the castle until reach the sun outside, shielded by the silver clouds. "I can feel it coming," Madolen holds her hand to block her eyes from the light.

I move my arm to wrap around Madolen's waist and pull her tiny frame closer to me, "We still have a good amount of time."

"Yeah," Madolen smiles up at me. "You didn't wake me up today."

"I saw you snoozing so peacefully, I couldn't bring myself to wake you," I start. "Besides, given the past few days, I thought you might like to sleep a little longer." I glance down at Madolen. "Are you feeling any better?"

"I think I am," Madolen begins a braid down the centre of her head and I comfortingly rub my hand up and down her side. "I'm still a little tired, but I'm fine."

"Hmm, it's not a fever," I gingerly touch Madolen's forehead. "You're a little warm."

"I'm fine," Madolen grins as she swipes my hand away from her head. "Really." she hops over to a young man selling different chocolates at a stall. "You should try some of this chocolate." she quickly exchanges with the man and pops a small brick of chocolate into my mouth.

"Mmm," I ponder the taste. "I'm glad I tried it." I raise a hand. "Wait right here and close your eyes."

"Oh, okay," she shuts her dark eyes and I take off to the other busy stalls. I stop at a seafood stall and order a piece of squid. I return to where Madolen is dutifully waiting for me to purchase some more dark chocolate. "Where'd you go?"

"Lemme work, Madolen," I grin. "Open your mouth, elskede."

Madolen seems to second guess herself, but does as told. I press the combo onto Madolen's tongue. She closes her mouth before I draw my finger away. "You… can open your eyes." Her large eyes open and she gives a small chuckle as I draw my hand away. "Can you guess what it is?"

"Umm, it's chocolate and really salty," she crunches her features in though. "What is it?"

"Squid and chocolate," I grin. "Good, isn't it?"

"That's the strangest thing I've ever eaten," Madolen smiles up at me. "But it was really good. What inspired that?"

"Back at home, there was a great surplus of squid," I begin. "So we had to get very creative with how we ate it. Squid for breakfast, lunch, dinner and desert."

"I'd imagine that you'd get tired of all that squid."

"I did," I laugh. "Ten year old Hans thought he might even become one should he eat anymore."

Madolen snickers at me before nudging me. "Do you see those people over there?" Madolen points to a group of men and women who rub a sticky substance onto the base of flower heads and stick them in elaborate patterns on the walls. Some of the others in the group brush bright orange, yellow, red and green decorations on the cobblestone ground – the Casmont colours. "They're 'lighting up' the road for the cows. They'll be someone who leads the cattle, of course, but it's a nice touch."

"Very nice touch," I tell. "That's why everyone is cooking so much today?" I question, noting all of the stalls out today – more than usual.

"Oui, it's a beautiful event," Madolen begins. "We take the cows up to the mountains to graze in the summer, and when we return them, we celebrate their arrival. There's food and music and it's hard not to be in a good mood when it all goes down."

"Will it be early tomorrow?"

"Really early," Madolen tells. "People have already been sent out to get the cattle. The cows will be draped in all sorts of gorgeous garb. They'll be blossoms everywhere," she spins in a circle twice, skirts twirling with her spread out arms. "They'll be kiddies in the street throwing paint and selling it for us all to paint the town with. Everybody always looks forward to this day. As soon as the sun sees us, the event starts."

"I can't wait even that long," I grin.

"Me neither," Madolen laughs. "Come, let me show you something. It'll keep us occupied until tomorrow." She takes off at a speed that causes me to surrender a yelp of surprise.

We weave through the busy life of the kingdom until we reach the pristine but old walls that cage the kingdom. Madolen examines the wall for a moment brows crunched in concentration. She mumbles as she searches for something on the structure.

"You're very fixated on this brick wall," I tease.

Madolen punches my shoulder with a laugh. "I'm looking for something." She begins counting her steps softly. "One, two... three… ha!" Madolen presses her palm into the greying wall, a brick sliding out of place. She repeats the action further up the wall a few more times. She puts her foot in one of the gaps as a foothold and climbs up the colossal wall. "Come on, amar," Madolen meets the height of double story building windows as she progresses.

Although I wouldn't ever confess it, the height of most establishments scares me. In the security of a balcony or a building, the tallness doesn't bother me. But on a wall, in such aggressive wind – I see no security.

"Alright," I clap my hands together before I begin after her. "I'm guessing that you've done this before." I groan as I strain up the wall.

"All the time with Gala and Jasper," Madolen perches atop the wall. She wipes a hand across her forehead. "We were rascals as a bunch of twelve year olds."

I join Madolen on top of the wall. To divert my focus from the elevation we're at, I speak. "Forgive me, but the most daring thing I imagine you doing is leaving the water running." I tease.

"Haha har!" she sticks her tongue out at me."Let me prove you wrong," Madolen smirks at me as she stands tall on the wall. Her eyes narrow on the ocean before us.

"You aren't planning on jumping are you?" I swing my legs over the wall so that I'm facing the cobalt ocean. "There are rocks everywhere."

"Which is precisely why I don't plan to land anywhere but there," Madolen points to a patch of sea right in front of her that is free of any pestilence. "I've probably done it a hundred times before. Besides, I did the math."

"I thought you didn't swim."

"I don't drown, but I wouldn't call that swimming," Madolen swings her hands over her head, preparing to dive.

"Madolen," I turn serious as I see waves of courage in her features. "I don't think this is a good idea."

"It's totally safe," Madolen says, a light laugh leaving her. "It's not that far down. And if anything the sea level is higher now than it was back then."

I take a look down at the more than three kilometre drop into deep. Not to mention the cliff that forms Casmont's base she could fall onto. "No, Madolen."

"What do you mean, 'no'?" she crunches her brows at me.

"I mean it's not safe," I tell. "I don't want you hurting yourself."

"….Alright. Alright fine, I won't jump," Madolen sighs, shrugging her shoulders. "Let's go back down then."

"Thank you," I turn back, but just as I do, Madolen springs off of the barrage, hooting as she drops. "Madolen!"

"Wooaahh! Aahh!" she flails about for a few seconds, but gains her composure once again as she spears her body into a swan dive. "Woo!"

SPLASH!

"Madolen?" I crease my brows as I search for Madolen amongst the calm waters. Fabrice flutters in a circle above the waves, just as eager to see her safe. What feels like a decade of time passes when Madolen suddenly bursts up from the depths.

"Hah!" she laughs as she breaks the surface. She wipes at her eyes before waving to me. "Come on in, Hans. It's okay." Fabrice nestles into Madolen's face. "Oh, mon cher!"

"Madolen, you said you'd come back!" I yell, fuming at what she just did. "Do you realize how badly this could have gone? What if you'd died?"

"What?" she calls back up at me. "I can't hear you, amar?" she whispers something to her cockatiel companion and he flutters up along the wall.

"Yes, you can," I hoot. "I'm not in the mood for games, Madolen."

"What?" she repeats. "Come down here so I can hear you better." I sigh in defeat, just as Fabrice comes up to meet me. He gives me a sly look, almost daring me to leap. "Don't be afraid, meu amar. It's not half as bad as it looks. Anything I can do, you can do." She says, now seated on a nearby bed of rocks, wringing out her dress.

"Alright, Hans," I mumble to myself. "Just… just give a little jump. That's all there is to it. A hop. A spring," I stand up on the wall. "Just a little-"

"Jump!" Madolen takes the word right out of my mouth as I leap off of the wall.

"Wooaahh!" I yell, the wind whipping past me and drying out my eyes. The ocean grows closer and closer and I land with a loud 'smack!' on my belly, silencing my screams.

Madolen

"Oooh!" I wince back at Hans' landing. After not seeing him for a moment I grow worried. "Hans?" I frown in focus as I search for him. Fabrice comes to sit on my shoulder and I lean forward to get a closer look. Hans shoots up from the water, painted rightly red from the impact of his landing. He wipes his hand over his face before pushing his hair out of his eyes. "You did it, Hans!" I clap giddily for him.

"Thank you, thank you. Yes, that's very nice. Very, very nice." Hans says coolly in a low voice, managing a bow in the deep waters. "Yes, ja and oui, I recognize my greatness."

I snort a laugh. "You'd better get out of the water, your greatness. The sharks could've left the Shores for the surf."

Hans cuts through the water to me and I help him out. "You reminded me actually, I was thinking of implementing some type of barrier to keep the sharks out of the Shores. A net of sorts."

"Well, that could work," I tell. "It'd ensure that the fish will spawn without threat."

"I'll run it by the king and queen," Hans says. He glances around himself, seemingly interested in the distance we've fallen. "How are we getting back up?"

"This way," I nod to the tower of rocks that begin at knee level, like a set of stairs. We start hopping from rock to rock, climbing higher and higher to meet the lip of the cliff that we just cleared. "Man, I'm really out of shape." I wheeze as I step onto the grass. I slip my shoes off and stick them into the gaps in the wall I made earlier by removing bricks. "I'm sorry that I was a little sneaky earlier."

"I should've trusted you more," Hans says, pulling his shirt over his head. He wrings it out as he comes over to the wall. "You were right after all."

I smile at him as I lean against the wall. "Yeah," I start. "Besides, you managed to do something you were afraid of today."

"I did it," Hans tells, "not sure if I liked it at all. But I did it regardless."

"I'm proud of you for it," I tuck a strand of hair into the now tired braid before clasping my hands behind my back. "You know, I wanted to surprise Gala and Jasper with a second date tomorrow."

"There's undeniable interest," Hans adds, taking his own shoes off.

"Exactly," say I. "Gala's just too proud to admit that there is and Jasper is too shy to explore the idea."

"You say that you all used to hang out," Hans starts. "Was their first date that bad that it changed everything?"

I sit on the ground. "It was dreadful. Jasper showed up a whole hour late and then they argued the whole date about literally everything." Hans sits down beside me. "In the middle of that, Gala knocked a candle over and accidently set Jasper's favourite coat on fire. And they argued about who should apologize to whom. Jasper demanded an apology for his coat and Gala for her time."

"Hmm," Hans wipes his hand over his hair. "Perhaps the Cow Train is the best time for them to reconnect. Given the mood of it all. I doubt they could be mad at each other in middle of all the festivities."

"I should've gotten Agnes and Lars to speak to them," I snap my fingers. "Did they instantly click?"

"Hahaha!" Hans laughs loudly at the question. "Maybe one of them did. Lars wasn't ready to be with anybody when Far introduced him to Agnes. Naturally, Agnes adored Lars and wanted to know all about him and be with him constantly so that he'd warm up to her. It took him some time, but her personality can wear down any walls. And she won him over with that."

I think for a moment before speaking. "All your brothers are married except Runo. Why?"

"He was married," Hans says. The wind picks up, blowing his hair lightly. "Valerie died three years ago from complications with her third born. It was a shock for everybody."

"…I'm sorry, Hans," I gently squeeze Hans' hand. "It must've been difficult for the family to recover from such a blow."

"It was, but we did," Hans says, clenching my hand back. "We always will." Hans wills himself out of the topic. "I recovered from that belly flop, didn't I?"

I cup Hans' face in both my hands with a wide beam. "You should see how red you are, amar. It's so cute."

Hans smirks at me. "Well I'm glad you're amused at my expense, but I should be compensated somehow."

"What can I do for you?"

"The thing I want right now is a kiss."

My smile widens as I get on my knees to peck Hans' cheek. "Satisfied?"

"I think you can do better than that," Hans grins.

I throw my head back in a laugh. I plant another kiss on Hans' forehead. "Is it to your satisfaction now, amar?"

"I can't tell just yet," Hans says. "Maybe a few more kisses will make it clear to me."

I stroke Hans' cheek, his skin warm, and beard pricking me. I can't tell if he's warm because of the area he was raised in, or the belly flop that is still very evident. I begin my pursuit in touching kisses all over Hans' face. When I pull back, I see his eyes are shut and a tiny smile on him. "How about now, my sultan?" I toss some humour at the way he so leisurely relaxes while I dote on him.

"You missed a spot," Hans opens one eye and point to his mouth.

"How could I have forgotten that?" I put a soft kiss on his lips before doing the same to his nose, the kiss on his sniffer lingering. "You're totally accounted for now." I tell as I pull back and sit back down. I rest my head against Hans' shoulder, my eyes threatening to shut with sleep. Then a biting wind brushes past Hans and me, startling me wide awake. The fabric of my dress grows drier by the second as it flaps viciously even as I'm seated. "Hans, I think… I think it's happening."

Hans stands up readily and helps me to my feet. The grey, silvery clouds plunge to a darker and darker shade of threat, seemingly working hand in hand with the wild winds.

"Madolen, we need to get back to the castle," Hans ushers me up the wall.

"Yeah, okay," Fabrice and I start up the bricks. I grab him and tuck him into one of my pockets. "The winds are too serious, my Fabrice." We clear the wall and Hans follows. I stare up for a moment at the sky, the thunder shaking me. "It's finally here – the storm."

A/N: There you have it lads and ladies. I hope you had a good read. I did say that there would be some drama in this fanfiction and I shall deliver. I just want to ease you all into it. But be there it will be. Take care!